Kadapa Again turns into Battleground During Filing of ZPTC, MPTC Nominations
2 injured as stones hurled near ZP office; YSRC candidate’s trucks set ablaze in Pulivendula.
Kadapa: The nomination process for ZPTC and MPTC elections turned violent in Kadapa district on Wednesday, amid allegations that candidates were being prevented from filing papers.
Incidents of stone pelting have been reported near the Zilla Parishad office.
Vehicles belonging to opposition YSRC candidates have been set on fire.
These incidents come just two days after clashes during the municipal election process in the district.
YSRC candidates who gathered at the party office before file nominations for ZPTC seats in Kadapa had allegedly been stopped by police.
Stones had been reportedly hurled at YSRC candidates near the Zilla Parishad office, leaving two persons injured and disrupting traffic.
Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy accused the ruling party of using its power to undermine democracy.
He alleged that the police are supporting the ruling party and Telugu Desam leaders are intimidating opposition candidates out of fear of defeat.
With two more days left for filing nominations for ZPTC and MPTC seats, candidates and their supporters have expressed fears of further violence.
Early on Tuesday, unidentified persons allegedly attacked the house of YSRC mayoral candidate Bandi Deepti with stones and beer bottles, damaging window panes.
In Pulivendula, lorries belonging to YSRC councillor candidate Niranjan Reddy had allegedly been set on fire on Tuesday.
A motorcycle near the house of another councillor candidate Anjanappa had also been reportedly torched.
No nominations for ZPTC memberships have been filed in Kadapa district on Wednesday, according to the information available.
YSRC candidates allege that their opponents are preventing MPTC candidates from submitting nomination papers.
Tension prevailed at Alur mandal headquarters in Kurnool district, where women reportedly confronted Alur sub-inspector Manmatha Vijay after he allegedly attempted to take an MPTC-3 candidate to the police station following threats.
The women’s resistance forced the SI to leave, according to reports.
Videos of the incident have been circulating on social media.
Police maintained that they had gone there to initiate binding-over proceedings.
House arrests of political leaders have continued across Kadapa district.
Badvel MLA Dasari Sudha had been placed under house arrest on Wednesday morning.
Other YSRC leaders under house arrest are Satish Reddy in Vempalli, MLC Ramesh Yadav in Proddatur, and P. Naren Ramanjula Reddy in Kamalapuram.
Allegations have emerged in Kurnool and Nandyal districts that police are warning some MPTC and ZPTC candidates against filing their nominations.
The allegations could not be independently verified.ently verified.
