Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh – January 6, 2026
In a scathing attack on the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of transforming local elections into a "show of force" marked by widespread intimidation, violence, and the blatant misuse of police resources. The allegations, leveled amid contentious Mandal Parishad President (MPP) by-elections in two districts, underscore escalating political tensions in Andhra Pradesh just months ahead of potential larger polls.
Reddy's outburst came in a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter) on January 5, where he decried the "brutal murder of democracy" during the by-elections in Vinjamuru mandal (Udayagiri constituency, Nellore district) and Bommanahalli mandal (Rayadurgam constituency, Anantapur district). Despite YSRCP candidates claiming a clear majority among Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) members, Reddy alleged that ruling party workers, backed by police inaction, employed coercive tactics to rig the outcomes in favor of the coalition.
Specific incidents highlighted in Reddy's statement paint a picture of orchestrated disruption. In Vinjamuru, he claimed YSRCP MPTCs en route to cast their votes were ambushed on the road, resulting in a woman MPTC sustaining severe bleeding injuries from the assault. "One member was kidnapped, and another was taken into police custody, all with the sole aim of stopping them from voting," Reddy wrote, accusing authorities of creating an "atmosphere of fear" to suppress democratic participation. He further lambasted the police for behaving "like puppets in the hands of the TDP," openly supporting the ruling party while failing to safeguard the electoral process.
A similar scenario unfolded in Bommanahalli, according to Reddy, where YSRCP MPTCs were allegedly confined and isolated from the polling site. "Police and election officials stood as silent spectators," he charged, allowing the vote to proceed forcibly under duress. These events, Reddy argued, exemplify a broader pattern under Naidu's regime: "Kidnapping elected representatives, attacking them in public, misusing the police, and bulldozing the election process has become routine."
The YSRCP leader, who served as chief minister from 2019 to 2024 before his party's defeat in the 2024 assembly elections, reserved sharp criticism for Naidu personally. "Chandrababu Naidu, who lectures the nation on democracy, must answer for turning Andhra Pradesh into a lawless jungle raj state," Reddy stated, warning that such "arrogance and anti-democratic tendencies" would be meticulously documented for future legal recourse. The party has demanded fresh, fair re-elections in the affected mandals and vowed to escalate the matter through its legal wing.
The TDP swiftly dismissed the claims as "baseless fear-mongering and fake drama," with party spokespersons asserting that the by-elections were conducted transparently under stringent security measures. They accused the YSRCP of fabricating stories to mask its organizational weaknesses and to protect "bogus elements" within its ranks from scrutiny. "The results reflect the people's mandate, not manipulation," a senior TDP leader remarked, pointing to the coalition's strong performance in recent local polls as evidence of public support.
This flare-up occurs against a backdrop of fierce rivalry between the YSRCP and the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, which assumed power in June 2024 after ousting Reddy's government. Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a string of violent clashes and poll-related disputes in the past year, including attacks on opposition workers during the 2024 general elections. Critics, including human rights groups, have raised alarms over the increasing militarization of politics in the state, with reports of over 200 incidents of electoral violence documented since the NDA's victory.
As Andhra Pradesh gears up for urban local body elections later this year, Reddy's accusations could galvanize opposition ranks while intensifying scrutiny on Naidu's administration. Political analysts suggest the episode may foreshadow a contentious battleground, where allegations of foul play could erode trust in the state's democratic institutions.
YSRCP leaders have called for an independent probe by the Election Commission of India, while the government maintains that robust oversight ensured a level playing field. For now, the war of words shows no signs of abating, with both sides bracing for what could be a defining chapter in the state's polarized political landscape.
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