Violence Erupts as YSR Congress Party Candidates Face Attacks During Andhra Pradesh Elections
YSR Congress Party claims attacks on its candidates during the MP and ZP elections in Andhra Pradesh, blaming rival parties for the violence.
Vijayawada, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : The nomination process for the MP and ZP elections in Andhra Pradesh began on Wednesday amid a climate of violence. Candidates and leaders from the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), including former Deputy Chief Minister K. Narayana Swamy, were reportedly attacked.
The YSRCP has accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its allies in the ruling coalition of orchestrating these attacks. The party claims that incidents of violence, threats, and assaults have been widespread across the state.
In various constituencies, YSRCP candidates faced physical assaults, destruction of nomination papers, police restrictions, and unlawful arrests. The party alleges that TDP and coalition leaders obstructed their candidates from filing nominations, while police failed to prevent the violence.
The elections for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) are scheduled for November 3. In Chittoor district, TDP workers allegedly attacked Narayana Swamy while he was assisting with the nomination process for the district council president from Penumuru.
According to the YSRCP, its leaders were injured in attacks by TDP workers in Chandragiri, Tirupati district. Former MPTC member Madan Reddy and YSRCP supporters Ramu and Lokesh sustained serious head injuries and were hospitalized. The YSRCP claims these assaults occurred in the presence of TDP MLA Pulivarthi Nani’s son, Pulivarthi Vineel, who is accused of inciting violence by bringing in outsiders from Tamil Nadu.
The opposition party criticized the police for their failure to intervene during the attacks. In Sri Kalahasti, a YSRCP supporter’s two-wheeler was vandalized and set on fire near the MPDO office. TDP leaders also allegedly intimidated YSRCP candidates attempting to file their nominations.
The YSRCP accused Jana Sena MLA Arava Sridhar and his party leaders of obstructing the nomination process in Railway Kodur, Tirupati district. Local YSRCP leaders confronted police, demanding that all their candidates be allowed to submit nominations.
Former MLA Brahmanaidu was placed under house arrest to prevent him from assisting YSRCP candidates during the nomination process in Narasaraopet, Palnadu district. Meanwhile, police arrested YSRCP state executive council member Kommneneni Venkateshwarulu while he was supporting candidates filing nominations in the Piduguralla mandal.
In Palnadu district, TDP workers reportedly attacked YSRCP candidates who arrived at the mandal office to file their nominations, forcibly seizing their nomination papers and disrupting the process.
The YSRCP stated that these incidents reflect the ongoing challenges faced by its candidates during the MPTC and ZPTC nomination process. The opposition party is calling for immediate security for its candidates, action against those responsible for the violence, and an end to police interference in the electoral process.
