Jagan’s criminal mindset is evident from violence by his party leaders: Andhra CM

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the blatant manner in which the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders were obstructing the local body elections by inciting violence at the behest of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was reflective of the former CM’s criminal mindset. 

While the government was extending full cooperation to the State Election Commission (SEC) for fair and peaceful conduct of the elections, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy was encouraging physical attacks and intimidation of candidates on one hand and filing multiple petitions in courts on frivolous grounds on the other to derail the process (of elections) in spite of knowing well that the devolution of funds by the Central government to the local bodies was contingent upon on time-bound conduct of elections. 

Jagan Mohan Reddy want the government to land in trouble through his ‘hit and run tactics’, i.e., precipitate a crisis and leave the government to grapple with it, Mr. Naidu said, insisting that the YSRCP chief had been synonymous with destruction both in politics and within his family. 

Addressing media persons at his camp office on Saturday (October 24, 2026), Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said law and order issues during elections used to be created by external forces but it was no longer the case as trouble was coming from political parties within the State, which was evident from the clashes triggered by the YSRCP with a clear motive to put the government in the dock. 

He said the situation during the local body elections held during the YSRCP rule was so hostile that the then State Election Commissioner apprehended a threat to his life and even sought protection following serious differences with the government on election-related matters. 

Mr. Naidu expressed confidence that the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance would decimate the YSRCP in the local body polls, saying that the government had the public trust, which it won in 2026, intact and people were watching how the YSRCP continued implementing its destructive agenda. 

He feared that violent incidents like the ones being witnessed since the announcement of the elections to local bodies would dent Brand AP image. In this context, he said Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao’s comments that Rayalaseema had no culture and it was known for violent clashes and murders were unfortunate but warranted serious consideration if the situation was to improve. 

There must be a public debate on the violent incidents that marred the filing of nominations for the local body polls, so that people would be able to distinguish between the TDP and its allies and YSRCP and let democracy win.