Allegations of Election Fraud Surface in Pulivendula Ahead of Local Polls

Pulivendula, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy has accused the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, of orchestrating election fraud in the upcoming local body elections in Pulivendula. This region is significant as it is the home constituency of YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Voting is scheduled for November 1 across 100 urban local bodies in the state. Avinash Reddy claimed that the government is attempting to influence the elections through police collaboration, violence, and intimidation. He alleged that directives for these actions are coming directly from the Chief Minister’s office and the Director General of Police (DGP), with oversight from DIG Koya Praveen.

During a media briefing at the YSRCP office, Reddy stated that TDP leaders B. Tech Ravi and Adinarayana Reddy have consistently obstructed the nomination process for YSRCP candidates. He reported that police prevented several individuals, including female candidates, from submitting their nominations and resorted to excessive force, including 37 rounds of gunfire, smoke bombs, tear gas, and baton charges.

Furthermore, Reddy alleged that YSRCP candidates faced attacks on their shops and vehicles. Despite having video evidence, he claimed that police have not acted against the perpetrators. Instead, they have filed cases against YSRCP workers under Section 307, conducted searches, and made arrests.

Reddy asserted that thousands of outsiders from regions like Jammalamadugu, Kamalapuram, Proddatur, and Rayachoti are being housed in lodges and function halls with police assistance. He accused the government of planning to facilitate fraudulent voting while suppressing legitimate voters, a strategy reminiscent of previous ZPTC by-elections.

The YSRCP MP called for full webcasting and live footage at all polling stations and mentioned that the party has approached both local and High Courts regarding this issue.

Reddy also highlighted several development initiatives during the tenures of former Chief Ministers Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Jagan Mohan Reddy, including the Krishna Water Project, a ₹500 crore medical college, housing for 8,000 families, and a ₹25 crore cold storage project. He criticized the current coalition government for neglecting development work.

He urged voters to support YSRCP chairperson candidate Pramilamma and the party’s candidates in all 20 wards.

In a related appeal, senior YSRCP leader and former minister Dharmana Prasad Rao urged voters in Greater Visakhapatnam to defeat coalition parties at the polls. Speaking at the YSRCP district office in Srikakulam, he accused Chief Minister Naidu of neglecting the development of Visakhapatnam, misusing municipal funds, and transferring public land to private companies.

Rao further alleged that influential local communities, such as Kapu, Yadav, and Gawara, are being excluded from political representation, while power in Greater Visakhapatnam is concentrated among the Chief Minister’s relatives and favored social groups. He questioned the transfer of ₹1,738 crore from the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation to Amaravati, despite ongoing challenges in the city, including water shortages, poor drainage, sanitation issues, and neglected slum areas.