Bonda Accuses YSRC Of Violence To Disrupt Local Polls
Addressing the media at the TD central office in Mangalagiri, he said the YSRC had filed 59 cases to stall the elections and resorted to attacks on candidates after its legal challenges failed.
Vijayawada:Telugu Desam MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao on Friday accused the YSRC of using violence, intimidation and litigation to disrupt local body elections, alleging that it was attempting to block the release of nearly Rs 12,500 crore in 16th Finance Commission funds to local bodies.
Addressing the media at the TD central office in Mangalagiri, he said the YSRC had filed 59 cases to stall the elections and resorted to attacks on candidates after its legal challenges failed.
He cited alleged incidents of arson and attacks in Punganur, destruction of nomination papers in Tirupati, and attacks on officials in Nagari and Srikalahasti. He also played video clips purportedly showing violence in Kanigiri, Rajampet and Kadapa.
Responding to YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s allegations that candidates were prevented from filing nominations, Bonda Uma cited Election Commission figures showing that the YSRC had filed 1,092 nominations for 659 ZPTC seats, compared with 1,055 filed by the TD. For 9,829 MPTC seats, the YSRC had filed 12,419 nominations, he said. In Kuppam, the party filed 99 nominations for 32 wards.
He also cited a video statement by Nandyal candidate Nagamani, who said she had voluntarily withdrawn her nomination without pressure.
Comparing election records, Bonda Uma claimed that 21 per cent of seats were won unanimously in the 2021 local body elections under the YSRC, against 0.1 per cent in 2014 under the TD. He alleged that intimidation and extortion had taken place during the earlier polls.
He accused the previous government of failing to fulfil 85 per cent of its manifesto promises and imposing 50,000 crore in power true-up charges. He claimed that the coalition government had spent `1.6 lakh crore on welfare in 27 months.