Yamini Sarma Targets Jagan Over Stand on Unanimous Local Polls

Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Sadineni Yamini Sarma on Thursday accused former chief minister and YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of adopting an opportunistic stand on unanimous elections in the forthcoming local body polls.

Speaking to the media, she referred to Jagan’s reported support for unanimous elections during the 2021 local body polls and his recent opposition to the practice. She questioned how a system he had described as a sign of development while in power could be termed undemocratic when his party was in the Opposition.

Yamini also criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy over his recent statement that party in-charges would not be given tickets to contest local body elections if the seats were won unanimously. She alleged that his stand amounted to putting pressure on party leaders for political gains.

She further alleged that during the previous YSRC government, opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations through intimidation and attacks. She also questioned Jagan’s criticism of unanimous elections and referred to his reported warning to the then State Election Commissioner.

Yamini asked whether the YSRC could support unanimous elections in 2021 while in power and oppose them in 2026 while in the Opposition. She said people would remember the events and that social media would also keep a record of them.

She also highlighted welfare schemes and development works being undertaken by the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Yamini urged the YSRC to face the people’s verdict in the forthcoming local body elections, whether contests were held or seats were won unanimously. She expressed confidence that people would support the alliance government for its welfare and development programmes.