Jagan accuses SEC of bias, alleges poll rigging in 70 Pulivendula booths
Synopsis
Jagan Mohan Reddy has levelled explosive allegations against Andhra Pradesh's State Election Commission, claiming YSRCP agents were locked out of 70 of 80 booths in Pulivendula while TDP workers 'captured' polling stations with police support — and that the SEC's repolling order covering only four booths amounts to a whitewash. A legal battle now looms.
Key Takeaways
Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the Andhra Pradesh SEC of being 'subservient' to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on 2 November 2026 .
YSRCP agents were allegedly barred from 70 of the 80 polling booths in Pulivendula during municipal elections.
The SEC ordered repolling in only 4 booths — a decision Jagan called an 'eyewash'.
Irregularities were alleged across 10 municipal corporations and more than 17 municipalities statewide.
YSRCP has announced it will challenge the alleged malpractice in court with video evidence.
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday, 2 November 2026, accused the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) of acting in favour of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), alleging widespread irregularities during municipal polling across the state. Jagan claimed the SEC had become 'subservient' to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, undermining free and fair elections.
Allegations from Pulivendula
The sharpest allegations centred on Pulivendula, where Jagan claimed YSRCP polling agents were barred from 70 of the 80 booths. He alleged that TDP workers brought in from outside the constituency went on a rampage, physically removing party agents from polling stations with the support of election officials and police.
'Voter slips were snatched from people, polling booths were captured, and votes were rigged and cast repeatedly. The video evidence of these incidents is clear. Agents from all 70 booths came to me personally, showed their agent forms to the officials, lodged complaints and protested,' Jagan said in a social media post.
YSRCP Questions SEC's Repolling Order
Jagan expressed sharp displeasure at the SEC's decision to order repolling in only four booths in Pulivendula, despite alleged irregularities across 70. He called the order an 'eyewash meant to mislead the public' and questioned how the Commission could discharge its obligations by limiting remedial action to such a small fraction of affected booths.
'If the Election Commission, which is responsible for protecting democracy, turns a blind eye to the ruling party's wrongdoing, how can people's right to vote be protected? How can the public retain faith in the electoral system?' he said.
Irregularities Alleged Across Andhra Pradesh
Jagan extended his allegations beyond Pulivendula, claiming poll malpractice in multiple municipal corporations including Kadapa, Anantapur, Tirupati, Kurnool, Chittoor, Ongole, Guntur, Nellore, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada. He also listed several smaller municipalities — Macherla, Chilakaluripet, Vinukonda, Jammalamadugu, Nandyal, Chimakurthy, Giddalur, Emmiganur, Sullurpeta, Palasa, Dhone, Naidupeta, Nandigama, Jaggayyapeta, Kuppam, Puttur, and Parvathipuram — where similar incidents reportedly occurred.
Legal Challenge Announced
Jagan announced that YSRCP would challenge the alleged irregularities in court, pledging to place all available evidence before the judiciary. 'Justice may take time, but truth and justice will ultimately prevail,' he said. No immediate response from the TDP, the SEC, or the state government was available at the time of this report.
The SEC and TDP are yet to formally respond to the specific allegations. With court proceedings now signalled, the fallout from Andhra Pradesh's municipal polls is set to extend well beyond election day.
Point of View
Where the losing side routinely disputes the Commission's conduct — but the specificity here is notable. Naming 70 booths in a single constituency, citing agent affidavits and video evidence, and pre-announcing a court challenge signals a structured legal strategy, not just political rhetoric. The SEC's decision to confine repolling to four booths — without a public explanation for rejecting the broader complaint — leaves it exposed. If the courts admit the petition and call for evidence, the Commission's credibility, already under scrutiny, will face a formal test that neither the TDP nor the SEC can easily deflect.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jagan Mohan Reddy allege about Andhra Pradesh's municipal elections?
Jagan alleged that the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission acted in favour of the ruling TDP, with YSRCP agents blocked from 70 of 80 booths in Pulivendula and similar irregularities reported across multiple municipal corporations statewide. He accused TDP workers of capturing booths and rigging votes with police support.
What was the SEC's response to the polling irregularities?
The SEC ordered repolling in only four booths in Pulivendula, a decision Jagan described as an 'eyewash.' No broader remedial action was announced for the dozens of other booths where YSRCP alleged malpractice. The SEC had not publicly responded to Jagan's specific allegations at the time of this report.
Where did Jagan allege election irregularities beyond Pulivendula?
Jagan named ten municipal corporations — including Kadapa, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur — and over 17 smaller municipalities across Andhra Pradesh where similar polling irregularities allegedly occurred on 2 November 2026.
What legal action is YSRCP planning?
Jagan announced that YSRCP would approach the courts to challenge the alleged election irregularities, pledging to present all available evidence including video footage. No filing date was specified, but the announcement signals a formal legal challenge is imminent.
Why do these allegations matter for Andhra Pradesh politics?
The allegations directly target the credibility of the state's electoral machinery ahead of what is expected to be a contested political period. If courts admit the petition and examine evidence, it could set a precedent for how the SEC handles complaints during future elections in the state.
