Jagan alleges large-scale irregularities in local body poll nominations

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The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday accused the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh of resorting to intimidation, violence and misuse of official machinery to prevent opposition candidates from filing nominations for local body elections.

Addressing the media at the party office at Tadepalli, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that candidates and party workers were being threatened and attacked in several parts of the State, while the police and election authorities were failing to act impartially. He claimed that the nomination process was being deliberately obstructed to enable the ruling alliance to secure victories without facing genuine electoral competition.

Referring to incidents reported from different areas, including Punganur, Tirupati, Kadapa, Pulivendula and Rayachoti, he alleged that the YSRCP candidates had faced pressure and intimidation. He questioned the conduct of the police, accusing them of acting in favour of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and failing to protect opposition candidates.

The former Chief Minister also alleged that the ruling coalition was misusing its position to weaken the Opposition and undermine democratic processes at the grassroots level. He maintained that elections should provide equal opportunities to all political parties and that voters must be allowed to exercise their franchise freely.

Stating that the YSRCP had secured public support through elections when it formed the government earlier, he alleged that the ruling coalition now was attempting to influence electoral outcomes through administrative pressure rather than democratic competition.

He demanded that the authorities ensure a fair nomination process, provide protection to candidates and take action against those responsible for alleged violence and irregularities.

The YSRCP president's remarks came amid an escalating political confrontation between the ruling NDA and the opposition party over the conduct of local body elections.

CEC, SEC selection

Mr. Jagan called for changes to the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and State Election Commissioner (SEC), arguing that the selection mechanism should ensure the independence and impartiality of election authorities.

‘’The present method of selecting the CEC is not right. We supported it at that time. We made that mistake. There must be changes in the system. The methods of appointing the CEC and SEC must change. The State government should not have the unilateral power to appoint the SEC,’’ he said.

The SEC should be selected jointly by the Chief Justice of the High Court, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Minister. The CEC should be selected jointly by the Chief Justice of India, the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister. Their appointments should not be made unilaterally, the YSRCP chief said.