Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, declared that any attack on a YSRCP worker would be treated as a direct attack on him personally, and issued a pointed warning to police officials that they would be held accountable for injustice even after retirement. He was addressing party cadres in his home constituency of Pulivendula, YSR Kadapa district, ahead of local body elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Warning to Police Officials

Jagan Reddy told police officers that they serve under the Constitution, not under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He reminded them of the three lions on their caps and urged them to honour their constitutional oath. The remarks were directed squarely at officials he accused of acting on behalf of the ruling coalition rather than upholding the law impartially.

Allegations of Nomination Rigging

The YSRCP chief levelled serious allegations against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition, accusing it of conducting elections on an uneven playing field. He alleged that opposition candidates were physically prevented from filing nomination papers, that papers were snatched and torn, and that others were rejected during late-night scrutiny. In Pulivendula, he said, nominations could be filed in only 20 of 40 wards, and contests were permitted in only 4 of 7 ZPTC seats.

Jagan alleged that candidates seeking to file nominations were subjected to lathi charges, and that police fired 37 rounds, injuring two persons in the legs. He further stated that 20 stun shells, 40 smoke shells, and 7 hand grenades were deployed. He claimed that attempt-to-murder cases were subsequently registered against 924 people in Pulivendula after police action against YSRCP workers.

Jagan on the Ruling Coalition's Claims

Jagan Reddy dismissed the coalition's celebration of 17 Urban Local Bodies going uncontested into its account — with 15 Chairperson posts for TDP, one for Jana Sena, and one for BJP — and its claim that 21 per cent of 2,108 wards were unanimous. He argued that victories secured by denying opponents the opportunity to contest cannot be called genuine. He also alleged that in Kadapa district, contests were prevented in 17 of 39 ZPTC seats.

Likening Chandrababu Naidu to the Sakuni character from the Mahabharata — who deceives opponents through rigged dice — Jagan said that when the nomination process itself is compromised, the sanctity of results and democratic principles collapses. 'Preventing opponents from contesting and then claiming victory is shameful,' he said.

Supreme Court Directions Ignored, Jagan Alleges

Jagan alleged that even after directions from the Supreme Court, there has been no change in conduct by Chandrababu, the State Election Commission (SEC), collectors, or Superintendents of Police. This is a significant escalation of language, as invoking Supreme Court non-compliance in a public rally raises the legal and constitutional stakes of the dispute.

Call to Action and Political Road Ahead

Jagan told party cadres that Pulivendula would become the starting point of a statewide movement to protect democracy. He announced he would return to the constituency a day before polling and cast his vote personally on polling day. He also indicated that with two years remaining in the current government's term, 'YS Jagan 2.0' was on the horizon. Every household, he said, was already comparing his governance record with the incumbent administration's — and voters would deliver their verdict in the coming elections.