TDP Unleashes Terror on First Day of Municipal Nominations, YSRCP Leaders Face Attacks, Vehicles Torched

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of unleashing violence and intimidation against opposition candidates on the first day of municipal nominations in Andhra Pradesh. The party alleged that its leaders were attacked, vehicles were torched and nomination papers were snatched and torn at several locations.

YSRCP leaders Lella Appi Reddy and Manohar Reddy strongly condemned the alleged attack on party MP P V Mithun Reddy in Punganur. In a social media statement, YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that TDP workers attacked Mithun Reddy's convoy with stones, sticks and iron rods, injuring his CRPF security personnel and damaging vehicles.

Jagan claimed that party candidates were prevented from filing nominations despite waiting for more than three hours at the nomination centre. He accused the police of failing to intervene and questioned the safety of ordinary citizens if the party's Lok Sabha floor leader could be targeted. The party also alleged that nomination papers were not accepted despite repeated attempts to submit them.

In Rayachoti, the YSRCP accused TDP workers of attacking former MLA Srikanth Reddy's office, setting vehicles on fire and injuring party workers. It said the incident followed alleged threats against its candidates. In Tirupati, the party alleged that a woman candidate's nomination papers were snatched and torn and that its leaders were attacked. Similar allegations of intimidation and the destruction of nomination papers were reported in Dharmavaram and Kadapa.

The party further alleged that its 30th Division candidate in Kadapa was obstructed from filing nominations and that Dachepalli Nagar Panchayat chairperson candidate Koppula Ravi Kumar was detained by police to prevent him from submitting his papers.

Jagan urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to intervene immediately, ensure that affected candidates could file nominations and deploy central paramilitary forces to protect candidates and maintain order.

He also demanded transparent online nomination facilities and live CCTV monitoring at polling stations, strong rooms and counting centres. He called for proper verification of ballot-paper account signatures and monitoring of the counting process.

The YSRCP vowed to pursue legal action against those responsible and demanded accountability from officials allegedly involved. The party maintained that elections must be conducted freely and fairly, without intimidation.