Jagan Warns of Statewide Movement To Protect Democracy
YSRCP chief alleges election irregularities in Pulivendula and calls for a fair contest.
Kadapa: YSRC president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday warned that any attack on voters or party cadre in Pulivendula would be treated as a personal attack on him. He announced that a movement to protect democracy would begin in Pulivendula and spread across Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing party workers ahead of the municipal elections, Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of misusing official machinery and manipulating the election process to benefit the ruling alliance. He alleged that the State Election Commission, police and other authorities were failing to ensure free and fair elections.
Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that Opposition candidates had been prevented from filing nominations in several places. In Pulivendula, his party could field candidates in only 20 of the 40 municipal wards, while elections could be held in only four of the seven ZPTC seats, he claimed.
He further alleged that nomination papers had been snatched, torn or rejected during scrutiny to prevent Opposition candidates from contesting. In Kadapa district, 17 of the 39 ZPTC seats had reportedly been left uncontested, while candidates were prevented from filing nominations in six places, he said.
Jagan Mohan Reddy questioned the registration of attempt-to-murder cases against 924 people in Pulivendula. He alleged that police had used force against his party supporters attempting to file nominations and claimed that firing and other coercive measures had been used to obstruct them.
Accusing the government of targeting women candidates, he said they were being prevented from exercising their democratic rights despite the need to encourage their participation in politics.
Jagan Mohan Reddy challenged Naidu to face Opposition candidates in a fair contest instead of claiming victories through uncontested elections. Jagan Mohan Reddy also criticised the government over what he described as its failure to implement the Super Six poll promises.
Appealing to police officers to uphold the Constitution rather than serve political interests, Jagan Mohan Reddy warned that officials responsible for alleged irregularities would be held accountable.
Jagan Mohan Reddy said he would visit Pulivendula on the eve of polling and cast his vote in the municipal polls on election day on November 1. He urged people to unite to protect democracy.
