Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday, 16 October 2026, alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has turned Andhra Pradesh into a 'jungle raj', following a violent attack on YSRCP Lok Sabha leader and Rajampet MP Peddireddy Mithun Reddy in Punganur. The attack, which left the MP with blood on his shirt and injured his security guards, occurred on the first day of filing nominations for local body elections in the state.

The Attack in Punganur and Arson in Rayachoti

The convoy of MP Mithun Reddy, the YSRCP's floor leader in the Lok Sabha, was reportedly attacked by a mob in Punganur town of Annamayya district, allegedly involving Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers. The attackers used stones, sticks, and iron rods to damage vehicles in the convoy, overturning some of them. Police escorted the MP to a room within the nomination centre after TDP workers reportedly barged in; officers had difficulty controlling the situation as the mob attempted to follow.

Hours later, tensions escalated in Rayachoti town, where several vehicles parked near the YSRCP office were set ablaze. The YSRCP blamed the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the arson. Workers of both parties clashed amid what authorities described as a volatile atmosphere surrounding the local body election nomination process.

Jagan's Reaction and Allegations Against Naidu

Jagan Mohan Reddy telephoned the injured MP to enquire about his condition and then publicly condemned the attack in strong terms. 'Violent politics is nothing new to Chandrababu. He has turned Andhra Pradesh into a jungle raj. We are witnessing a situation where even our party leader in the Lok Sabha has no security,' Jagan said.

He alleged that the coalition government, now two-and-a-half years into its tenure, was resorting to violence, intimidation, and attacks in response to growing public resentment. He further accused Chief Minister Naidu of misusing the police machinery to commit electoral irregularities and claimed the police remained inactive even as attacks unfolded.

Jagan added that the coalition government had no intention of allowing local body elections to be conducted peacefully or fairly. He said YSRCP would challenge the prevailing situation through every legal and constitutional means and would demand the deployment of Central paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair elections — a demand the party intends to place before the judiciary.

YSRCP Writes to President, PM, Home Minister and Others

In the wake of the violence, YSRCP Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy dispatched separate written representations to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Chief Justice of India, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, the Andhra Pradesh Governor, the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson.

Gurumoorthy sought urgent institutional intervention, an impartial investigation, preservation of CCTV footage and other evidence, scrutiny of security lapses, and adequate protection for MP Mithun Reddy, his security personnel, and all candidates participating in the local body elections. He referenced the Andhra Pradesh High Court order dated 15 October 2026 on safe nomination filing and protection for candidates facing threats.

In his separate letter to Speaker Om Birla, Gurumoorthy sought an examination of the possible parliamentary privilege implications of the attack and urged that the matter be considered for referral to the Committee of Privileges.

Political Context and What Comes Next

The violence marks a significant escalation ahead of the Andhra Pradesh local body elections, with both sides accusing the other of orchestrated intimidation. This is not the first time the state has seen inter-party clashes during nomination proceedings — Andhra has a documented history of electoral violence, particularly in Annamayya and Rayalaseema districts. Notably, the AP High Court had issued specific directions on candidate safety just a day earlier, making Friday's events a direct challenge to judicial oversight.

With YSRCP approaching multiple constitutional authorities and the courts, the confrontation between the two parties is set to intensify. Whether Central forces are eventually deployed — and whether any independent investigation is ordered — will define the credibility of the local body election process in the days ahead.