YSRCP president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the ruling coalition of undermining democracy through alleged irregularities in the ongoing local body elections, including preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations and misusing official machinery.
Addressing party cadres in Amaravati on Tuesday, Jagan alleged that the coalition government was attempting to secure victories by restricting the opposition’s access to the nomination process. He said elections should be conducted on a level playing field, with equal opportunities for all political parties.
“Elections should be held on a level playing field where all players should be given equal opportunity,” Jagan said, alleging that the election process was being manipulated by occupying nomination centres and preventing opposition candidates from submitting papers.
Jagan described the alleged practice as “nomination rigging”, comparing it with the earlier use of the term booth rigging. He alleged that candidates and their supporters were being prevented from contesting before voters had the opportunity to choose between them.
“You contest, I contest, and whoever receives the people’s vote should win. That is Democracy. Preventing opponents from contesting and then claiming victory is shameful,” he said.
The YSRCP chief criticised the ruling coalition’s celebration of victories in 17 Urban Local Bodies. According to his remarks, the Telugu Desam Party won 15 chairperson posts, while the Jana Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party won one each. He also questioned the coalition’s celebration of unanimous victories in 21 per cent of the 2,108 wards.
Jagan alleged that victories secured after opposition candidates were denied an opportunity to contest could not be treated as genuine electoral victories. He also questioned claims relating to victories in six municipalities, including municipalities in YSR district.
The allegations extend beyond the nomination process. Jagan claimed that women were stopped at check-posts and on roads, attacked by TDP workers, subjected to saree-pulling and deprived of their nomination papers. These claims were made during his address to party cadres and were not independently established in the report.
Jagan also linked his allegations to the coalition government’s electoral promises. He claimed that 143 promises remained unfulfilled after three years and alleged that the government was avoiding a fair electoral contest because of public dissatisfaction. He questioned the status of the government’s Super Six and Super Seven promises and referred to bonds distributed before the elections.
In defending the record of the previous YSRCP government, Jagan cited welfare schemes including Asara, Cheyutha, EBC Nestham, Kapu Nestham and zero-interest loans for women. He also referred to Amma Vodi, Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena, which he said supported children’s education.
Jagan further claimed that the previous government had distributed 31 lakh house-site pattas, initiated the construction of 21 lakh houses and provided 50 per cent reservation for women in nominated posts and contracts. The report did not include a response from the ruling coalition or an election authority addressing the allegations. The conduct of the nomination process and the reported results in the Urban Local Bodies remain the immediate points at issue.
