Polling for the by-election to the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) in Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Kadapa district, began on Tuesday amid chaos, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) trading allegations of rigging.
During the local body elections in 2021, held under the YSRCP regime, TDP leaders claimed they were not allowed to contest, alleging that YSRCP leaders tore their nomination papers and prevented them from filing for several MPTC and ZPTC seats.
Even in Kuppam, the constituency of TDP president and current Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, there were accusations that YSRCP leaders, with police support, forcibly captured many seats.
Now in power, the TDP is accused of using similar tactics - intimidating voters, luring opposition leaders, and capturing local bodies in YSRCP strongholds.
In what appears to be political retaliation for the 2021 incidents in Kuppam, the TDP is aggressively targeting the Pulivendula ZPTC seat, the home turf of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, allegedly ignoring democratic principles and threatening YSRCP supporters.
For decades, no ZPTC or MPTC elections were held in Pulivendula, as the YSR family dominated the region and the TDP refrained from contesting.
For the first time, the TDP has fielded Mareddy Latha Reddy, wife of local leader B. Tech Ravi, against YSRCP candidate Hemanth Reddy, leading to heightened tensions and clashes.
According to YSRCP leaders, TDP members have seized control of 15 polling booths since early morning, even preventing polling agents from entering.
Kadapa MP Y S Avinash Reddy, reportedly suffering from a high fever, was allegedly dragged away by police without being allowed to wear his slippers, despite repeated pleas and assurances that he would remain at home. His supporters, who tried to intervene, were also manhandled.
Avinash Reddy had earlier warned the police about alleged booth capturing by the TDP and requested access for polling agents, but his appeals were ignored, raising concerns about the neutrality of the election process.
The YSRCP accused TDP “gangs” of openly colluding with the ruling coalition, police, and officials to block YSRCP voters, stop party agents, and turn polling stations into TDP-controlled zones.
Reports emerged of women voters being attacked in Kanampalli, voters threatened with violence in Nallapureddypalli, and vehicles stopped two kilometres from booths in Motnutalapalli.
Media representatives were allegedly blocked, cameras snatched, and villagers resisting were lathi-charged by police.
The YSRCP charged that Chandrababu Naidu’s coalition had turned the Pulivendula by-election into a “lawless operation,” using the police as political tools and bringing in rowdies to undermine democracy.
The party claimed these actions show the TDP-led coalition is fearful of the people’s mandate and willing to go to any lengths to stop a YSRCP victory.
