Tension At Tirupati, Punganur As Parties Trade Charges Over Nomination Process
Tension prevailed at nomination centres in Tirupati and Punganur on Saturday: Reports
NELLORE: Tension prevailed at nomination centres in Tirupati and Punganur on Saturday, with YSRC leaders alleging that Telugu Desam workers obstructed their candidates from filing nominations, while TD leaders accused YSRC MP Peddireddy Venkata Mithun Reddy of creating trouble.
In Tirupati, MP Maddila Gurumoorthy, MLC Sipai Subrahmanyam and other YSRC leaders went to the nomination centre opposite the Municipal Corporation office to file papers on behalf of mayoral candidate Vasu Yadav.
Gurumoorthy alleged that TD workers surrounded them, snatched nomination papers and prevented them from entering the centre despite repeated attempts from 11 am. He said the police had failed to provide protection and questioned the presence of TD workers within 100 metres of the centre.
With the nomination deadline set for 3 pm, Gurumoorthy urged the State Election Commission to intervene, examine video evidence and conduct an impartial inquiry into the alleged obstruction.
In Punganur, YSRC candidate Niyaz, who sought to contest from Ward 6, alleged that TD workers obstructed him and snatched his nomination papers. Supporters of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) also alleged that they were prevented from filing nominations and staged a protest.
Meanwhile, TD MLAs Pulivarthi Nani and Murali Mohan, addressing the media in Tirupati, accused Mithun Reddy of attempting to revive factional politics in Rayalaseema. They alleged that he had brought around 100 people from Karnataka and threatened officials. The allegations were not independently verified.
Tirupati Urban Development Authority chairman Dollars Divakar Reddy also accused YSRC leaders of continuing their alleged confrontational politics despite losing the previous elections.
The rival allegations have raised concerns over the nomination process, with the YSRC seeking an inquiry and the TD accusing opposition leaders of intimidation.
