YSRCP alleged widespread nomination violence, while TDP accused it of disrupting Andhra Pradesh's local elections. The dispute intensifies scrutiny of poll officials after 19 municipal elections were deferred.
Amaravati,Oct 21, 2026 22:48 IST
The YSRCP on Wednesday alleged that 76 incidents of violence and intimidation had taken place across 11 districts during nominations for the ZPTC and MPTC elections, news agency Press Trust of India reported. The party said these included attacks, arrests, house confinement, threats and the destruction of nomination papers.
The TDP rejected the allegations and accused the YSRCP of trying to disrupt the local body elections. The claims came as Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha deferred elections in 19 municipalities across seven districts, citing Supreme Court orders.
YSRCP state coordinator S Ramakrishna Reddy said YSR Kadapa district had reported 22 such incidents, followed by Palnadu with 18 and Annamayya and Tirupati with 11 each. The remaining incidents took place across seven other districts, he said in a party press release.
Ramakrishna Reddy said the party would submit the details to the Supreme Court and seek the transfer or removal from election duty of officials it held responsible. He alleged that obstruction during municipal nominations, arbitrary rejection of nomination papers during scrutiny and threats forcing candidates to withdraw had become recurring features of local body elections.
He also alleged that several candidates had withdrawn under police pressure and after being threatened with fabricated narcotics and other criminal cases, PTI reported.
Ramakrishna Reddy welcomed the Supreme Court's intervention in Andhra Pradesh's local body elections. He demanded that the State Election Commission exercise its powers, protect candidates and remove officials allegedly serving the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the TDP said in a post on X that the coalition government had anticipated that YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy would create "chaos and destruction" during the elections.
"The government had already anticipated that Jagan would create chaos and destruction in the areas of YCP leaders like Avinash Reddy, Mithun Reddy, Peddireddy and others to disrupt the elections. That is why it took some precautions and was able to control the riots," the TDP said.
The party claimed that Jagan Mohan Reddy had approached the Supreme Court using the alleged violence "he orchestrated" as evidence to seek a halt to the elections.
The TDP also accused the YSRCP of having a culture of "unleashing thugs" who attacked TDP candidates filing nominations in Punganur with iron rods and stones. It asked "why such fear of elections?"
The TDP claimed that Jagan Mohan Reddy feared a repeat of the YSRCP's defeat in the previous general elections. It alleged that he had around 60 cases filed to delay the polls, with some opposing reservations for backward classes and others seeking elections only after the census process was completed.
"Nevertheless, the elections didn't stop. The BC reservations didn't stop either," the TDP added.
The YSRCP has sought action over alleged violence, intimidation and official bias during the nomination process, while the TDP has accused it of attempting to disrupt the elections. Polls in 19 municipalities have been deferred following the Supreme Court orders.
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