Jagan meets Andhra Governor, demands Central forces for ULB polls
Synopsis
Jagan Mohan Reddy took his election-violence allegations straight to Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer on Sunday — citing zero nominations in 8 locations, torn papers in 8 others, and police fire on candidates — and demanded Central forces before ULB polling begins. The confrontation signals a sharp escalation between YSRCP and the TDP-led coalition ahead of what may become a legally contested local body election cycle.
Key Takeaways
Jagan Mohan Reddy met Governor S.
Abdul Nazeer at Lok Bhavan, Vijayawada on 18 October 2026 .
Jagan alleged YSRCP candidates were blocked from filing ULB election nominations at multiple centres across Andhra Pradesh .
In 8 locations , no nominations were filed; in 19 locations , only 36% of papers were submitted; in 8 other places , nomination papers were reportedly torn up.
In Pulivendula , only 19 nominations were filed across 36 wards .
YSRCP MPs Avinash Reddy , P.
Mithun Reddy , and Gurumoorthy were allegedly obstructed at nomination centres.
Jagan demanded deployment of Central forces and CCTV coverage, and said all legal options remain on the table.
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday, 18 October 2026, met Governor S. Abdul Nazeer at Lok Bhavan in Vijayawada and urged him to intervene to protect democratic processes in the state ahead of urban local body (ULB) elections.
What Jagan Told the Governor
Jagan apprised Governor Nazeer of what he described as a pattern of undemocratic conduct by the ruling coalition, alleging that YSRCP candidates were being systematically blocked from filing nominations at local body election centres. He specifically sought the deployment of Central forces and CCTV surveillance across all nomination and polling venues to ensure a free and fair process.
Jagan alleged that while YSRCP candidates were denied entry to nomination centres, supporters of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition were allowed in freely, with attacks reportedly carried out on opposition candidates. He further alleged that police personnel were acting in favour of the ruling alliance.
Scale of the Alleged Disruption
Jagan presented the Governor with specific figures to underscore the gravity of the situation. According to him, in eight locations across the state, no nominations were filed at all. In 19 locations, only 36 per cent of nomination papers were submitted. In eight other locations, nomination papers belonging to YSRCP candidates were allegedly torn up. In Pulivendula alone, only 19 nominations were filed across 36 wards.
He also brought to the Governor's attention the treatment reportedly meted out to YSRCP Members of Parliament — Avinash Reddy, P. Mithun Reddy, and Gurumoorthy — at nomination centres, including allegations of police opening fire at candidates and the filing of serious criminal cases against party nominees.
Jagan's Remarks to the Media
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jagan called the conduct of the ruling coalition 'unprecedented' and appealed to YSRCP cadres to persist in their resistance, saying that 'times would change in the coming days.' He alleged an orchestrated conspiracy to neutralise active party workers by booking them in cases.
'These acts of anarchy show that Chandrababu Naidu lacks confidence, despite resorting to undemocratic practices. Denying people who wish to contest the opportunity to do so is a stain on democracy,' he said, adding that all options — including legal remedies — would be explored.
What Comes Next
Jagan appealed to the public and all concerned citizens to protect democratic norms and ensure that every individual wishing to contest the urban local body elections is allowed to file their nominations without obstruction. The YSRCP has indicated it will pursue both judicial and political routes to press its demands, making the next few days critical for the conduct of local body polls in Andhra Pradesh.
Point of View
But the harder question is institutional: if the allegations of police complicity and nomination obstruction are even partially accurate, the Election Commission's silence is as newsworthy as Jagan's governor visit. Andhra Pradesh has a history of sharp post-election power shifts, and local body polls have historically served as proxy battles for state political dominance. What happens in these ULB elections could set the tone for the next assembly cycle — and a contested or suppressed local poll outcome will be a gift to whichever party reaches the courts first.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jagan Mohan Reddy meet the Andhra Pradesh Governor on 18 October?
Jagan met Governor S. Abdul Nazeer at Lok Bhavan, Vijayawada, to flag alleged undemocratic practices by the ruling coalition during urban local body election nominations. He sought Central forces deployment and CCTV coverage to ensure a free and fair election process.
What specific allegations did Jagan make about the ULB nominations?
Jagan alleged that YSRCP candidates were blocked from entering nomination centres in multiple locations, while TDP supporters were admitted freely. He stated that in 8 locations no nominations were filed, in 19 locations only 36% of papers were submitted, and in 8 other locations nomination papers were torn up.
What happened in Pulivendula during the nomination process?
According to Jagan, only 19 nominations were filed across 36 wards in Pulivendula, which he cited as one of the starkest examples of the alleged obstruction of the nomination process.
Which YSRCP MPs were allegedly targeted at nomination centres?
Jagan told the Governor that YSRCP MPs Avinash Reddy, P. Mithun Reddy, and Gurumoorthy were obstructed at nomination centres. He also alleged police opened fire at candidates and serious criminal cases were filed against YSRCP nominees.
What next steps has YSRCP indicated it will take?
Jagan said the party will explore all options, including legal remedies, to protect democratic rights. He appealed to cadres to continue their fight and to the public to ensure that every willing candidate is allowed to file nominations for the Andhra Pradesh urban local body elections.
