Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, 27 October launched a sharp attack on the INDIA Bloc for opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and challenging the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), calling the Opposition's stance politically motivated and contradictory. The remarks came at a joint press conference in Amaravati, ahead of the upcoming Andhra Pradesh local body elections.

Naidu's Core Argument on EVMs

Naidu, who is also the national president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), pointed out that EVMs were first introduced under the Congress government and were deemed reliable at the time. He argued the Opposition's newfound scepticism is driven by electoral defeats, not evidence of malfunction. 'When the Congress initiated the EVMs, the machines were very good. Now that you are losing elections, you are blaming the same machines. How can you justify this? Before criticising, everyone must think,' he said. He added that Opposition parties need people's trust, not machine's trust.

Defending the SIR Process

On the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, Naidu dismissed Opposition allegations of irregularities, including claims of wrongful deletion of voter names and 'vote chori.' He noted that Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of all political parties were invited to participate in the enumeration process and were coordinated by Booth Level Officers. 'Have you raised any objection then? Why are you raising them now?' he asked. He also claimed that a leader of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had earlier supported the SIR, making current criticism inconsistent. Naidu further cited the deployment of CCTV cameras as a structural safeguard against electoral malpractices, contrasting the present system with past instances of booth rigging.

Local Body Election Campaign and NDA Unity

The press conference also served as a campaign platform for the NDA alliance — comprising the TDP, Jana Sena, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — ahead of the local body elections. Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan alleged that the previous government had harassed employees, while the current dispensation had made payments of ₹30,000 crore to clear pending dues. He added that the state had attracted investments worth ₹22 lakh crore and that strict action was underway against ganja-related activities.

Naidu introduced direct elections in urban areas this cycle, saying they bring leadership stability and give citizens a stronger voice. He also warned that disciplinary action would be taken against alliance members who campaign against officially fielded candidates. 'Candidates who have received official party B-forms must be supported, and all other aspirants should cooperate to ensure their victory,' he said.

Sharp Exchange Over YSRCP '2.0' Remark

The press conference turned combative when the leaders responded to YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's claim that the party would demonstrate a 'YSRCP 2.0' in the local body elections. Pawan Kalyan said the coalition's answer would be 'NDA 10X', while Naidu questioned the intent behind the remark: 'They talk about '2.0' — what do they intend to do, eliminate everyone? A political leader should speak with a sense of responsibility.' BJP State President P.V.N. Madhav reaffirmed the NDA's commitment to welfare, development and good governance.

Double-Engine Growth Pitch

Naidu closed with a pitch for NDA dominance at all governance levels, invoking the Centre-State 'double-engine government' model. 'With the NDA's victory in local bodies, we can achieve a triple-engine pace of development,' he said, appealing to voters to set a new trend in local body elections. He also alleged that the YSRCP was misusing the government's patience and creating obstacles to development. The local body election results will be an early test of whether the TDP-led coalition's 2024 general election mandate has translated into grassroots support.