Amaravati, Jan 6: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday alleged large-scale violations of democratic norms during the Mandal Parishad President (MPP) by-elections held in Vinjamuru mandal of the Udayagiri constituency and Bommanahalli mandal of the Rayadurgam constituency.
Accusing the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government of misusing force and police machinery, Jagan said the indirect local body elections were reduced to a “show of force” rather than a democratic exercise.
“Even in a small MPP election, the way democracy is being brutally murdered exposes the extreme high-handedness of the TDP and the dangerous nature of the coalition government,” he said in a post on X.
Jagan alleged that in Vinjamuru mandal, YSRCP workers were stopped on the roads while attempting to reach polling venues. He claimed that one woman representative sustained bleeding injuries, while another was allegedly kidnapped.
In Bommanahalli mandal, he further alleged that YSRCP representatives were confined or deliberately kept away to ensure the ruling party’s victory, despite the YSRCP having a majority of members.
The former chief minister also accused the police and election officials of acting as silent spectators and puppet while the alleged violations took place. He blamed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for creating a “lawless jungle raj” in the state.
“Chandrababu Naidu has reduced elections to a show of force instead of a democratic process,” Jagan alleged.
The YSRCP has demanded the cancellation of the MPP by-elections and called for fresh polls to be conducted in a free and fair manner.
The allegations come ahead of the larger local body elections scheduled to be held in Andhra Pradesh in 2026.
