Jagan alleges democracy murdered in Andhra municipal polls, demands repoll
Synopsis
Jagan Mohan Reddy staged a sit-in protest at a returning officer's office in his own constituency, alleging TDP workers occupied 70 of 80 polling booths, physically assaulted YSRCP candidates and agents, and were backed by police — turning a municipal election day in Andhra Pradesh into a flashpoint over the state of Indian democratic institutions.
Key Takeaways
Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged widespread booth capturing and rigging by TDP workers during Andhra Pradesh municipal elections on 1 November 2026 .
YSRCP agents were allegedly denied entry or removed from 70 out of 80 booths in Pulivendula .
Chairperson candidate Prameelamma was allegedly attacked; polling agent Sunanda reportedly suffered a fractured hand.
Jagan sat in protest before the Returning Officer's office , demanding a repoll .
He called on the NDA leadership and Central Government to intervene, warning the silence of alliance partners would set a dangerous democratic precedent.
Similar violations were alleged in Kadapa , Chittoor , Macherla , Kuppam , and at least five other towns .
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday, 1 November 2026, alleged that democracy was 'murdered in broad daylight' during Andhra Pradesh municipal elections, claiming that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers occupied polling booths, expelled YSRCP agents, and carried out widespread rigging with alleged police support. Jagan staged a sit-in protest in front of the Returning Officer's office in Pulivendula, his home constituency in YSR Kadapa district, demanding a repoll.
Allegations at Pulivendula Polling Stations
According to Jagan, YSRCP agents were denied entry or forcibly removed from 70 out of 80 polling booths in Pulivendula. He alleged that TDP workers were present at booths from as early as 4 a.m., intimidating voters and seizing their voter slips before turning them away.
'In a democracy, if opposition party agents are not allowed to sit inside polling booths, who will identify the voters?' Jagan said. 'No one will be there to identify them because YSRCP polling agents have either been forcibly removed from the booths or denied entry into the polling stations.'
He further claimed that the YSRCP's chairperson candidate Prameelamma was attacked, polling agent Sunanda suffered a fractured hand, and a YSRCP councillor candidate was taken away in a police jeep. Bogus votes were allegedly cast before genuine voters arrived, while police reportedly carried out lathi-charges at several locations.
Reported Violations Across Multiple Towns
Jagan alleged that similar conditions prevailed in Kadapa, Jammalamadugu, Chittoor, Macherla, Chilakaluripet, Tadipatri, Madanapalle, Chimakurthy, and Kuppam. He said journalists and camera operators recording alleged electoral irregularities were attacked and their equipment damaged.
Jagan also questioned compliance with Supreme Court directions on CCTV surveillance at polling stations, arguing that without live CCTV footage, claims of a transparent poll could not be sustained.
Jagan's Journey to Pulivendula Obstructed, He Claims
The former Chief Minister alleged that his travel to Pulivendula was also interfered with. Landing permission for his helicopter — which had already taken off from Bengaluru — was reportedly withdrawn mid-flight, with authorities insisting he arrive only after 3 p.m. The landing was eventually permitted after Civil Aviation authorities objected to cancelling permission while the aircraft was airborne, according to Jagan.
Attack on Chandrababu Naidu and NDA
Jagan directly targeted Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying he had no moral right to remain in office if elections were being reduced to a 'mockery.' He pointed out that despite nearly 1,000 police personnel being deployed in Pulivendula, hundreds of TDP workers were reportedly allowed to remain near booths without any action, even as repeated calls to the Superintendent of Police and Collector went unaddressed.
Jagan also invoked unfulfilled governance promises — citing the Super Six and Super Seven schemes, non-implementation of fee reimbursement programmes Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena, the scrapping of the zero-interest scheme for women, and lack of remunerative prices for farmers — as evidence that the ruling party feared a free and fair vote. 'No section of society is happy with Chandrababu. That is why they are afraid of free elections,' he alleged.
He called upon the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leadership and the Central Government to respond, warning that silence from the Centre while an alliance partner undermined the electoral process would set a dangerous precedent for Indian democracy.
Point of View
He has a structural incentive to contest every vote count. That said, the specificity of his claims — named individuals injured, a candidate removed in a police jeep, helicopter permission reportedly revoked mid-flight — raises questions that the State Election Commission and the Centre cannot simply dismiss as sour grapes. The deeper issue is institutional: when the police force deployed to protect an election is itself alleged to have facilitated rigging, the credibility deficit extends far beyond one municipal vote. If the NDA at the Centre stays silent on complaints against its own alliance partner, it hands the opposition a ready-made narrative about selective accountability — a narrative that travels well beyond Andhra Pradesh.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jagan Mohan Reddy allege about the Andhra Pradesh municipal elections?
Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that TDP workers occupied polling booths from as early as 4 a.m., forcibly removed or blocked YSRCP agents from 70 of 80 booths in Pulivendula, intimidated voters, and cast bogus votes — all with alleged police support. He staged a sit-in at the Returning Officer's office and demanded a repoll.
Where did Jagan stage his protest and why?
Jagan staged his protest in front of the Returning Officer's office in Pulivendula, YSR Kadapa district — his home constituency — after he alleged that democratic processes had completely broken down during the municipal polls there on 1 November 2026.
Were the alleged violations limited to Pulivendula?
No. Jagan claimed similar conditions prevailed in at least nine other towns, including Kadapa, Jammalamadugu, Chittoor, Macherla, Chilakaluripet, Tadipatri, Madanapalle, Chimakurthy, and Kuppam.
What did Jagan say about Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu?
Jagan said Chandrababu Naidu had no moral right to remain Chief Minister if elections were being reduced to a mockery. He alleged that 1,000 police personnel deployed in Pulivendula took no action against TDP workers near polling stations despite repeated calls to the Superintendent of Police and Collector.
Did Jagan call on the Central Government to intervene?
Yes. Jagan called upon the NDA leadership and the Central Government to respond, warning they could not remain silent while an alliance partner was allegedly undermining the democratic electoral process in Andhra Pradesh.
