TDP urges SEC to rein in YSRCP leaders inciting violence ahead of local body elections

TDP leaders Varla Ramaiah and P. Ashok Babu submitted a representation to State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha, requesting him to initiate stringent action against the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders and workers who resorted to violence as part of their attempts to vitiate the process of local body elections in Punganuru, Rayachoti, Tirupati, and a few other places in Rayalaseema on Friday.

They complained that anti-social elements brought from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were behind the clashes that broke out on the day the process of filing nominations began, and alleged that the YSRCP’s intention in inciting violence was to terrorise the voters because they were not in a position to face the elections, or hoped that they could reap electoral dividends by fomenting trouble.

Mr. Ramaiah said the YSRCP leaders perpetrated violence in the first hour of filing of nominations itself by attacking the TDP cadres and the contestants with weapons, causing severe injuries to several people.

He alleged that Rajampet MP P.V. Midhun Reddy deliberately visited a centre in Punganuru, where nominations were being filed, in a convoy of vehicles with many people wielding sticks and weapons, to drive out the TDP cadres and other contestants as part of the YSRCP’s political conspiracy.

Actions of the YSRCP leaders were in clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Goons were brought from Katpadi, Tirutthani and other places in Tamil Nadu and certain neighbouring places of Karnataka to disturb the elections, the TDP leaders alleged, calling upon the SEC to direct the departments concerned to be vigilant to control the antisocial elements to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.