YSRCP alleges police misuse in Pulivendula local body polls, demands probe
Synopsis
YSRCP's state general secretary S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy has levelled serious allegations of police misuse, arson, midnight arrests, and alleged bribery of officers during Pulivendula local body elections — all denied or unaddressed by TDP. The charges, if verified, would represent a significant assault on electoral integrity in one of YSRCP's key strongholds.
Key Takeaways
YSRCP State General Secretary S.V.
Satish Kumar Reddy alleged police and administrative misuse by the ruling TDP coalition in Pulivendula local body elections on 31 October 2026 .
Reddy alleged obstacles including obstruction of nomination filings, midnight arrests, and restrictions on polling agents for YSRCP workers.
He claimed vehicles belonging to party-backed councillor candidates were set ablaze, with no action taken against those responsible.
Reddy demanded a probe into alleged financial payments to police — reportedly ₹25 lakh for DSPs, ₹10 lakh for CIs, and ₹5 lakh for SIs.
Nearly 2,000 police personnel have reportedly been deployed in Pulivendula; YSRCP questions the purpose of that deployment.
No official response from the TDP government or Andhra Pradesh police was on record at the time of the press conference.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) State General Secretary S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy on Saturday, 31 October 2026, alleged that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition in Andhra Pradesh is misusing police and state administration to suppress opposition activity in Pulivendula during the ongoing local body elections. Reddy made the allegations at a press conference held at his camp office in Vempalli.
Key Allegations Against the Ruling Coalition
Reddy alleged that the ruling alliance, reportedly anxious about an electoral setback in what has historically been a YSRCP stronghold, is resorting to intimidation rather than contesting democratically. He claimed that police, revenue officials, and constitutional institutions were being leveraged to tilt the electoral process in favour of the ruling alliance.
Drawing on a cricket analogy, he said the government was trying to influence the 'umpires' instead of competing fairly on the political field — a reference to what he described as pressure on election machinery.
Obstacles Faced by YSRCP Workers, Candidates
According to Reddy, YSRCP candidates and party workers have faced a series of obstacles during the poll process, including obstruction of nomination filings, registration of serious criminal cases, midnight arrests, and restrictions on party activists seeking to serve as polling agents.
He also alleged that despite being a native of Pulivendula, he was personally served with police notices barring him from entering the town, while individuals from neighbouring constituencies including Jammalamadugu, Kamalapuram, and Proddatur reportedly faced no such restrictions.
Arson Incidents and Criminal Cases
The YSRCP leader condemned incidents of alleged arson targeting vehicles belonging to party-backed councillor candidates, claiming that trucks and motorcycles were set ablaze. He alleged that no meaningful action had been taken against those responsible, even as numerous criminal cases were reportedly filed against YSRCP activists — a pattern he described as selective enforcement.
Demand for Probe Into Alleged Police Payments
Reddy demanded an investigation into reports that financial incentives were allegedly being distributed to police personnel deployed in Pulivendula. According to his claims, packages of ₹25 lakh were allegedly offered to Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), ₹10 lakh to Circle Inspectors (CIs), and ₹5 lakh to Sub-Inspectors (SIs). He questioned whether the nearly 2,000 police personnel deployed in the area were being used to obstruct YSRCP voters and protect TDP-backed outsiders.
Political Context and YSRCP's Appeal to Voters
Reddy alleged that N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh were attempting to weaken the political influence of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy through intimidation and misuse of state machinery. He urged citizens to exercise their voting rights fearlessly and defend democratic processes. Notably, no response from the TDP government or police authorities had been reported at the time of the press conference. All allegations remain to be independently verified.
Point of View
But the specificity here — named ranks, named amounts, named restrictions on an individual leader — raises the stakes for independent verification. Pulivendula is Y.S. Jagan's home turf, and any perception of administrative overreach there will be amplified far beyond its municipal significance. The TDP's silence, if it persists, will only fuel the narrative. At the same time, opposition parties routinely deploy such press conferences as pre-emptive cover for electoral losses; the credibility of these charges rests entirely on whether complaints reach the Election Commission and whether it acts. The deeper issue is structural: Andhra Pradesh has swung sharply between YSRCP and TDP administrations, and each transition has produced mirror-image allegations of state machinery misuse — a cycle that corrodes institutional trust regardless of which party is in power.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has YSRCP alleged about the Pulivendula local body elections?
YSRCP State General Secretary S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy has alleged that the ruling TDP coalition is misusing police, revenue officials, and state administration to obstruct opposition activity in Pulivendula during local body elections. Specific allegations include midnight arrests, blocking of nomination filings, arson targeting YSRCP-backed candidates' vehicles, and restrictions on polling agents.
What are the alleged payments to police officers that YSRCP is demanding a probe into?
Reddy alleged that financial incentives were reportedly being distributed to police personnel deployed in Pulivendula — ₹25 lakh for DSPs, ₹10 lakh for CIs, and ₹5 lakh for SIs. He demanded an independent investigation into these claims, which have not been independently verified or confirmed by authorities.
Why is Pulivendula politically significant in this context?
Pulivendula is the home constituency of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and is considered a traditional YSRCP stronghold. YSRCP alleges the ruling TDP is specifically targeting this area to weaken Jagan's political base ahead of local body results.
Has the TDP or Andhra Pradesh police responded to these allegations?
No official response from the TDP government or Andhra Pradesh police was reported at the time of the press conference on 31 October 2026. All allegations made by YSRCP remain unverified and are attributed solely to the party's claims.
What action has YSRCP urged voters and authorities to take?
Reddy urged voters in Pulivendula to exercise their franchise fearlessly and called on citizens to defend democratic processes. He also demanded that authorities investigate the alleged financial payments to police and take action against those responsible for arson targeting YSRCP candidates' vehicles.
