Punganur Poll Row Leaves YSRC Out Of Race
YSRC failed to file nominations in Punganur before the deadline, alleging obstruction by officials and restrictions on party leaders during the local body election process.
Candidates from the ruling alliance and the YSRC filed nominations in urban local bodies across the erstwhile Chittoor district, except in Punganur, where the YSRC took a hit. The process there was marred by clashes and allegations of obstruction.
The process for the Chittoor corporation and the municipalities of Madanapalle, Nagari, Palamaner, Kuppam, and Puttur concluded on Sunday.
In Punganur, Annamayya district, the YSRC failed to file a single nomination before the deadline.
The party alleged that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations. It approached the high court and the state election commission with a complaint. YSRC MP Mithun Reddy filed a house motion petition in the high court, alleging that officials refused to accept his party's nominations and cases were being filed to intimidate YSRC candidates elsewhere.
Mithun Reddy said the party was ready to contest the elections and hoped the court would intervene.
He alleged that being fearful of a defeat, the TD-led government was creating hurdles in the YSRC’s attempts to file nominations in Punganur. The YSRC could not file nominations before the deadline expired while awaiting relief from the high court.
Police issued notices to Mithun Reddy and YSRC MLA Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy on Sunday morning, asking them not to enter Punganur. Police said they wanted to avert any breach to law and order during the nomination process.
The YSRC alleged that the restrictions on its leaders affected its candidates' preparedness to file nominations.
Official figures showed that Punganur received 108 nominations across its 36 wards, including eight for the chairperson post, all filed by the TD. For the councillor posts, the TD filed 78 nominations, Jana Sena 11, BJP five, CPI and other parties one each, and independents four.
Madanapalle received 410 nominations across 48 wards. The TD filed 162 nominations for councillor posts, YSRC 153, Jana Sena 26, BJP 14, BSP two, the Congress one and independents 32.