Did People Choose Progress in TDP's By-Election Victory?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Pulivendula and Ontimitta by-elections marked a pivotal TDP victory.
- Voters are prioritizing progress over stagnation.
- Allegations of electoral malpractice are prevalent.
- The political landscape in Andhra Pradesh is rapidly changing.
- Public trust in democracy is at stake.
Amaravati, Aug 14 (NationPress) The residents of Pulivendula and Ontimitta have opted for progress instead of stagnation, stated Nara Lokesh, the Andhra Pradesh Minister and general secretary of the TDP.
The Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology shared his thoughts on 'X' regarding the Telugu Desam Party's triumph in the by-elections held for the Pulivendula and Ontimitta Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) in the YSR Kadapa district.
“For the first time in three decades, Pulivendula has actively engaged in a genuine democratic election process, allowing citizens to cast their votes without constraints,” Lokesh remarked, being the son of Chief Minister and TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu.
“Kudos to Latha Reddy and Krishna Reddy for their well-deserved success. I extend my sincere gratitude to the electorate for their overwhelming support for our candidates,” he added.
The TDP successfully captured both seats from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), striking a significant blow to YSRCP leader and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on his home ground.
Conversely, the YSRCP accused Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh of undermining democracy by manipulating or taking control of institutions.
Former minister Perni Nani stated, “Law enforcement was utilized to protect TDP interests, and there was no satisfactory response to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's inquiry about how voters from different areas were permitted to participate in the by-elections.”
YSRCP leader Nani asserted that the “repoll in two booths was orchestrated to evade further examination, proving once again that TDP lacks faith in democracy and fair electoral practices.”
“The chaos of TDP was evident in Pulivendula, and their propaganda machine spun lies and deceit as per usual,” he commented.
He also claimed that the State Election Commission failed to make the CCTV footage of the polling accessible.
“The populace will teach TDP a lesson in the near future,” he said, adding that electoral fraud has been a hallmark of Chandrababu. He pointed out that in the 2024 elections, irregularities occurred where the number of votes counted exceeded those cast,” he concluded.