Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday, 5 November launched a sharp attack on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government, alleging that the entire local body election process had been systematically subverted — from nominations through to counting. Speaking to reporters in Tadepalli, he called the polls neither free nor fair, and said the ruling alliance's victory amounted to a 'moral defeat.'

Key Allegations Against the TDP-Led Government

Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had deployed police and ruling party workers to prevent Opposition candidates from filing nominations in both the ZPTC and MPTC polls. He claimed nomination rejections during scrutiny, attacks on polling agents, rigging, and vote cycling were all part of a coordinated pattern across the state. 'Such an election is a scar on the face of democracy,' he said.

The YSRCP chief named specific locations — including Tekkali, Kotabommali, Darsi, Kanigiri, Palamaner, and the Vemula and Lingala mandals of the Pulivendula constituency — where he alleged voters were prevented from exercising their franchise. He also alleged that YSRCP cadre and booth agents were attacked with petrol bombs.

Fudged Figures and Supreme Court Directives

Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that polling percentages and vote counts in the municipal polls were manipulated, with figures at counting tables inflated far beyond the numbers officially announced after polling day. He further alleged that despite directives from the Supreme Court, the coalition government's conduct remained unchanged. The YSRCP chief presented video clips of what he described as violence during the local body and municipal elections to substantiate his claims.

Attack on Chandrababu Naidu's Governance Record

'The entire election process was hijacked by Chandrababu and his people, mocking democracy at every stage — from nominations to scrutiny, withdrawals, polling and even counting. Such an exercise does not merit being called an election, as it was neither free nor fair,' Jagan Mohan Reddy said. He also accused the Chief Minister of failing women, farmers, and youth by not honouring pre-election promises, and of handing over medical colleges and ports to private parties while ignoring relief to people affected by twin cyclones in the state.

Drawing a literary parallel, he said: 'Like Shakuni's magic dice in the Mahabharata, Chandrababu has rolled the official machinery in favour of the coalition. But we fought bravely and exposed the misdeeds at the national level.' He contrasted the 'Safe Andhra' narrative of the YSRCP's tenure with what he characterised as a public cry for 'Save Andhra' under the current dispensation.

YSRCP's Broader Position

Despite losing seats in the local body polls, Jagan Mohan Reddy framed the Opposition's performance as a political win, asserting that YSRCP had 'won the hearts of the people' even if the official mandate had been subverted. He suggested the conduct of these elections could serve as a case study for electoral reform, saying there was 'enough material' to build such an analysis. This comes amid broader Opposition scrutiny of local body poll conduct across several southern states.

The ruling TDP-led coalition has not issued an immediate response to Thursday's allegations. How the state's election machinery and courts respond to any formal complaints is expected to shape the next phase of this political confrontation.