Tadepalli, Oct 2026 : YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA government in the state of failing to comply with Supreme Court directives concerning local body elections. He demanded the appointment of an amicus curiae to supervise the electoral process, deployment of central forces and CCTV coverage to ensure transparency.
Addressing a press conference in Tadepalli, Jagan alleged that the state government was undermining democratic processes by allowing attacks on opposition candidates, intimidation and the alleged seizure and destruction of nomination papers. He also accused the police and certain officials of acting in a partisan manner, warning that the situation could lead to a constitutional crisis.
The YSRCP chief claimed that similar incidents had occurred during nominations for Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), as well as in urban local body elections. According to him, party candidates, including women, had been threatened, while nomination papers were allegedly snatched or torn.
Jagan released a book titled Pachamookala Dadulu (attacks by yellow mobs), which he said contained photographic evidence of alleged attacks on YSRCP candidates and leaders. He stated that a QR code providing access to the compilation would be made available to people concerned about safeguarding democracy and that the material would also be submitted to the courts.
"We have been reporting all incidents to the concerned officials and will also move the Courts as democracy is at stake with the prevailing anarchy," Jagan said.
He further alleged that nomination papers had been filed in the names of YSRCP candidates without their consent, signatures had been forged and withdrawals had been announced fraudulently. These allegations could not be independently verified from the information provided.
Seeking judicial intervention, the former Chief Minister called for an amicus curiae to oversee the elections, protection for all contesting candidates, deployment of central forces and video recording of the entire process.
Jagan also criticised the State Election Commission (SEC), alleging that it had selectively permitted re-nominations in a limited number of locations despite complaints of obstruction in 19 municipalities. He said the SEC had considered a few wards in four urban bodies — Tirupati, Kadapa, Rajampeta and Mydukur — rather than addressing the complaints comprehensively.
The YSRCP president accused the government of attempting to keep opposition candidates out of the electoral contest through alleged irregularities during scrutiny and other stages of the nomination process. He praised party workers for continuing to contest despite what he described as adverse conditions and warned that officials found responsible for wrongdoing would face consequences.
Listing alleged incidents involving party leaders, Jagan said YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy was arrested from the party office in Kadapa, while former Deputy Chief Minister K. Narayana Swamy was attacked in Chittoor. He alleged that complaints about officials' conduct had been submitted to the SEC without adequate action.
Jagan also recalled that the YSRCP had contested previous local body elections during the COVID-19 pandemic and secured a decisive mandate, which he attributed to the party's welfare programmes and outreach.
The YSRCP has said it will approach the courts over the alleged violations, seeking measures to protect candidates' rights and ensure that the local body elections are conducted in accordance with the law.
