Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has alleged widespread intimidation and serious violations of democratic norms during the Mandal Parishad President (MPP) by-elections in Vinjamuru and Bommanahalli mandals. He accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led coalition of using force and manipulating police machinery to influence election outcomes.
Reddy took to X on Monday, stating that even in a small MPP election, democracy was being brutally undermined, exposing the high-handedness of the TDP and the dangerous nature of the coalition government led by Chandrababu Naidu. He claimed that elections have been reduced to a display of force rather than a genuine democratic process.
He specifically highlighted incidents in Udayagiri constituency, Vinjamuru mandal, where YSRCP workers were allegedly stopped on their way to vote. According to him, several party members were attacked, one woman MPTC candidate suffered bleeding injuries, one member was kidnapped, and another was taken into police custody. Reddy described these acts as a deliberate attempt to instill fear, block voters’ rights, and suppress democratic participation. He further alleged that the police acted in support of the ruling party, failing to safeguard the election process.
Similar incidents were reported in Rayadurgam constituency, Bommanahalli mandal. Reddy accused the TDP-led coalition of routinely attacking elected representatives, misusing law enforcement, and coercing outcomes to favor the ruling party. He criticized Chandrababu Naidu for presenting himself as a champion of democracy while allegedly turning Andhra Pradesh into a lawless state. Reddy emphasized that the abuse of power in local body elections reflects the government’s arrogance and anti-democratic approach.
According to the YSRCP, despite holding a clear majority of MPTC members in both mandals, elections were allegedly manipulated through intimidation, with police and election officials acting as passive observers. The party has demanded cancellation of the by-elections and called for fresh polls conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The YSRCP stated that all alleged incidents are being documented for future legal and judicial action against those responsible. The party has also approached the State Election Commission and the state’s top police official seeking intervention and justice. At the time of reporting, there was no immediate response from the ruling TDP coalition regarding the allegations.
