5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Violence, allegations mark ZPTC by-elections in Andhra Pradesh
KADAPA: The ZPTC by-elections in Pulivendula and Vontimitta turned volatile on Tuesday, marked by clashes, voter intimidation, and allegations of electoral malpractice between the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Both constituencies, seen as prestige battles, witnessed heavy police presence and preventive measures that failed to curb escalating tensions.
In Pulivendula, police placed YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and TDP MLC Bhoomireddy Ramagopal Reddy under house arrest early Monday to prevent potential unrest.
Avinash Reddy was taken into custody and briefly moved to Yerraguntla police station amid protests from supporters before returning to his Pulivendula office under tight security.
DSP Murali Naik threatened to shoot YSRCP workers for resisting police orders during the ZPTC by-election campaign.
Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen ordered YSRCP workers to vacate the office, citing security concerns, which sparked confrontations.
YSRCP alleges TDP intimidation, large scale poll malpractices
Avinash Reddy, staging a dharna at Yerraguntla's four roads circle, demanded the election's cancellation and a re-poll under central forces, alleging TDP-orchestrated rigging with police complicity. He accused TDP MLAs Chaitanya Reddy, BJP MLA Adinarayana Reddy, and Ravi of bringing outsiders from Jammalamadugu to cast bogus votes, presenting video evidence of fake voting at Nallapureddypalli. Labeling the election 'the worst in independent India,' Reddy criticized DIG Praveen and SP Ashok Kumar for allegedly aiding the TDP.
Incidents of booth capturing and voter suppression were reported across villages like Kanampalli, where a voter was seen pleading with police to vote, and Dugganagaripalle and Erripalle, where TDP activists allegedly blocked women voters.
