TD Moves SEC Over ‘YSRC Violence’ During Nominations
Party submits video evidence, seeks action against those responsible
Vijayawada:The Telugu Desam on Friday lodged a complaint with State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha, alleging attacks, vandalism, intimidation and violations of election rules by YSRC cadres during the local body nomination process.
A delegation of MLCs Varla Ramaiah and Parchuri Ashok Babu, AP Engineering, infrastructure corporation chairman S Rajasekhar and TD leader Gottipati Ramakrishna Prasad submitted a written complaint along with video evidence and press reports.
The references were to incidents in nine areas: Hanumanthunipadu, Krishnagiri, Kuravapalli, Peddatippasamudram, Peddamandyam, Yadlapadu, Chowdepalli, Dharmavaram and Macherla. The letter alleged attacks on TD candidates and police personnel, threats and damage to vehicles.
Speaking to the media, Ramaiah accused the YSRC of attempting to disrupt the elections through petitions and ‘fabricated’ evidence. He said the Supreme Court had authorised the SEC to examine 19 complaints filed by the YSRC individually and had not granted the party a blanket relief.
Ramaiah defended the SEC’s actions, saying the commission had suspended the election process at more than 100 locations to facilitate scrutiny and obtained reports from collectors and superintendents of police in all 28 districts. After examining the reports, the SEC ordered fresh acceptance of nominations in only four places, a decision welcomed by the TD, he said.
Ramaiah alleged that violence in Macherla had escalated, claiming that the brother of former MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy led around 300 people in attacks on police, damaged barricades and assaulted party workers with stones and sticks. He alleged that motorcycles were set on fire and police officers of inspector and sub-inspector ranks were assaulted.
The TD urged the SEC to order preventive arrests and take stringent action against those responsible. Varla also demanded that the Election Commission of India cancel the YSRC’s recognition, accusing the party of using money and muscle power to obstruct the democratic process.
Targeting YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Varla alleged that he had failed to understand the Supreme Court’s directions. He said the party should pursue its grievances through constitutional and democratic means rather than resort to force.
