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NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Mockery Of Democracy. Cancel It": Jagan Reddy Slams Andhra Panchayat Bypolls
Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for fresh elections for the Pulivendula and Vontimitta zilla parishad by-polls - this time under the supervision of central forces to ensure a "fair" process - because those held Tuesday were "a mockery of democracy". Echoing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ' vote chori ' battle-cry - an attack on the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janta Party for 'colluding' to commit voter fraud - Mr Reddy declared, "What happened at Pulivendula and Vontimitta is the real 'vote chori'." Mr Reddy told reporters booth agents from his YSR Congress Party had been forced to abandon their posts and people had been bullied into voting for the ruling Telugu Desam Party. "Cancel the two elections and re-conduct them under the protection of central forces," he declared. The YSRCP boss made his demand with the party's two candidates sitting by his side. The party will move the court to cancel the election, the former Chief Minister said. The Pulivendula by-poll is a prestige issue for Jagan Reddy. Not only is he the MLA for the region, it is also a party stronghold. Vontimitta, meanwhile, is part of the Rajampet Assembly constituency won by the YSR Congress in the past two, i.e., 2019 and 2024, elections. Mr Reddy slammed the "atrocious and undemocratic" election process and accused TDP boss and his successor, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, of having set "a very bad precedent which is dangerous to democracy, and the spirit of elections is lost by such nefarious deeds..." He claimed the election had been tampered with despite police presence. Mr Reddy claimed an estimated 10,600 votes across 15 booths were suspect. He said around 700 police personnel had been deployed at these booths - not to ensure a peaceful election but to terrorise voters. He also slammed the shifting of polling booths, saying it was meant to threaten or confuse voters and force them to return without voting. The ex-Andhra Chief Minister also showed video clips that appear to show TDP workers from Jammalamadugu (a town in YSR Kadapa district) and other areas voting while locals - those who were supposed to vote from these seats - claimed they had not been allowed to vote. Mr Reddy claimed his party's Kadapa Lok Sabha MP, YS Avinash Reddy - also his cousin - had been placed under house arrest and "manhandled", after he complained of booth-capturing. The police said Avinash Reddy - who the party said was not in the polling area, as required by law - had been taken into custody over fears of violence between YSRCP and TDP workers. The cops also pointed out a TDP lawmaker - MLA Ram Gopal Reddy - had been similarly detained. But Jagan Reddy insisted the cops had favoured the TDP, declaring that party's cadre could move around the polling area and indulge in malpractice by claiming to be from the YSRCP. "Police were handpicked for this... they conducted the election in a totally biased manner to please Chandrababu Naidu... who has been harassing cops who do not toe his line." "This cannot be called an election as YSRCP polling agents - who play an important role in the election process, right from verifying voters' list to complaining about fake voters and then sealing the ballot boxes - were not allowed to operate," the former Chief Minister said. "Where is the need for an election if such practices are followed? This is a dangerous trend... as the State Election Commission did not consider our complaints on atrocities, violence, and police bias, and did not respond to our pleas to make CCTV footage public." Jagan Reddy also counterattacked after criticism from the Congress' Manickam Tagore, and blamed the national party for turning a "blind eye to the corruption" of the TDP-led coalition government in the southern state.
News18
23-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Jagan Mohan Named As Accused After Vehicle In His Convoy Runs Over YSRCP Supporter
Last Updated: A case had been registered against Jagan Mohan for the death of Cheeli Singayya, who was reportedly run over by the ex-Andhra CM's convoy in Guntur district. A case has been registered against YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, after a party supporter lost his life after being run over by a vehicle that was part of Reddy's convoy in Guntur district. Guntur SP Satish Kumar said a case had been registered against Jagan Mohan for the death of Cheeli Singayya. On June 18, Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Rentapalla with a convoy of three vehicles to call on a family member of a YSRCP leader who had died by suicide a year ago. The event turned tragic as Singayya, who had gathered along the roadside with other YSRCP supporters, was knocked down by a vehicle in the convoy and sustained serious bleeding injuries. As the tragedy unfolded, eyewitnesses rushed to his rescue and alerted the law enforcement. Soon after, the man was taken to Guntur Government Hospital for treatment but he succumbed to his injuries. The tragedy raised concerns over crowd management and sparked widespread criticism regarding the lack of security oversight. 'After analysing various evidence, it was found that the deceased was seen under the wheels of Jagan Mohan Reddy's vehicle," said Guntur district Superintendent of Police (SP) S Satish Kumar, addressing a press conference late on Sunday. A case was initially registered under Section 106(1) of BNS (causing death by negligence) based on a complaint by his wife, Cheeli Lurdhu Mary, at the local police station. However, the SP said that after examining CCTV footage, drone videos, eyewitnesses, and other technical evidence, the case has been updated to include Sections 105 and 49 of the BNS, and legal action will be taken against all those present in the vehicle, including Jagan Mohan. Other accused include Jagan Mohan Reddy's driver Ramana Reddy, Personal Assistant K Nageshwar Reddy, senior YSRCP leader YV Subbareddy, former MLA Perni Venkataramaiah, and former Minister Vidadala Rajini, Kumar told reporters. (with agency inputs) First Published:
