YSRCP's Ambati Rambabu accuses Andhra SEC of becoming Naidu's 'puppet'
Synopsis
YSRCP's Guntur chief Ambati Rambabu has accused the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission of functioning as a 'puppet' of CM Chandrababu Naidu — alleging nomination papers were torn by police, opposition leaders were placed under house arrest, and former Minister Vidadala Rajini was physically pushed to the ground. With 54 officials named and court action threatened, the local body poll process in Andhra Pradesh is heading toward a major legal confrontation.
Key Takeaways
Ambati Rambabu alleged on 24 October 2026 that the Andhra Pradesh SEC has become a 'puppet' of CM N.
YSRCP claimed its nominees were prevented from filing nominations, with papers reportedly torn in police presence.
Former Minister Vidadala Rajini was allegedly pushed to the ground by police; a video of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Senior YSRCP leaders Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy , Bolla Brahma Naidu , and Namburi Shankara Rao were allegedly confined to their homes.
YSRCP identified 54 police officials , including IPS officers, for alleged electoral irregularities and threatened action via the High Court and Supreme Court.
Alleged incidents involving Jana Sena and BJP candidates in Kadapa were also cited, suggesting the controversy extends beyond YSRCP.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Guntur District President and former Minister Ambati Rambabu on Saturday, 24 October 2026, alleged that the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has been reduced to a 'puppet' of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, purportedly enabling 'forced unanimous elections through violence and intimidation' ahead of the state's local body polls.
Allegations Against the SEC and Ruling Coalition
Addressing reporters at his camp office in Guntur, Rambabu levelled sweeping charges against what he described as a three-way collusion between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led ruling coalition, the police, and the SEC. He claimed that YSRCP nominees were prevented from filing nomination papers, with their documents reportedly torn in the presence of police personnel, while media were barred from nomination centres to conceal what he called TDP atrocities.
Rambabu further alleged that opposition leaders were placed under house arrest while police allegedly facilitated the movements of ruling-party candidates. 'Police promised protection over the phone but remained spectators during attacks on candidates, including women,' he said.
Alleged Assault on Former Minister Vidadala Rajini
Rambabu also condemned what he described as a police assault on former Minister Vidadala Rajini, who was reportedly pushed to the ground while accompanying a candidate during the nomination process. YSRCP had, on Friday, demanded an independent investigation by the SEC into the incident and called for action against the officials held responsible. A video of the alleged altercation circulated widely on social media, with the party citing it as evidence of police highhandedness during the ongoing nomination phase.
Senior Leaders Allegedly Confined, Other Parties Affected
According to Rambabu, senior YSRCP leaders Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, Bolla Brahma Naidu, and Namburi Shankara Rao were confined to their homes, preventing them from distributing B-Forms and assisting candidates. He further alleged that the reported intimidation extended beyond YSRCP, citing purported attacks on the family of Jana Sena leader Bellamkonda Srinivas and on BJP candidate Suresh in Kadapa.
YSRCP Names 54 Police Officials, Threatens Legal Action
Rambabu claimed that YSRCP had identified 54 police officials — including IPS officers and Sattenapalli DSP Hanumantha Rao — for alleged involvement in electoral irregularities. He urged the party to seek legal recourse through the High Court and Supreme Court, accusing the police machinery of being misused to serve the political interests of Chief Minister Naidu and his son, Cabinet Minister Nara Lokesh.
YSRCP Poll Appeal Amid Controversy
Calling on voters to reject what he termed 'undemocratic practices', Rambabu appealed for support for YSRCP's mayoral candidate Sridevi and the party's corporator candidates in Guntur, urging citizens to vote for the 'fan' symbol. The Naidu government and the SEC had not, at the time of reporting, issued a formal response to the allegations. With local body polls approaching, the disputed nomination process is expected to face further legal and political scrutiny.
Point of View
Citing a video of a former minister allegedly pushed by police, and flagging incidents affecting Jana Sena and BJP candidates gives the charges a cross-party texture that the ruling coalition cannot easily frame as sour-grapes politics alone. The deeper issue is structural: Andhra Pradesh's local body elections have historically been flashpoints for state-versus-opposition tensions, and the SEC's credibility is under scrutiny following Supreme Court directions on candidate protection. If YSRCP moves the courts and allegations are partially upheld, it will deal a reputational blow to the Naidu administration's claim of restoring democratic norms — a central plank of its post-2024 positioning.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ambati Rambabu allege about the Andhra Pradesh SEC?
Ambati Rambabu alleged that the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has been reduced to a 'puppet' of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, enabling forced unanimous elections through violence and intimidation. He accused the SEC of colluding with the TDP-led coalition and police to block opposition candidates during the local body polls nomination process.
What happened to former Minister Vidadala Rajini?
Vidadala Rajini was reportedly pushed to the ground by police while accompanying a YSRCP candidate during the nomination process. A video of the alleged incident circulated on social media, and YSRCP demanded an independent SEC investigation along with action against the officials responsible.
How many officials has YSRCP identified for alleged electoral irregularities?
YSRCP has reportedly identified 54 police officials, including IPS officers and Sattenapalli DSP Hanumantha Rao, for alleged involvement in electoral irregularities. The party has threatened to seek legal action through the High Court and Supreme Court.
Were parties other than YSRCP affected by the alleged violence?
Yes, according to Rambabu, the reported intimidation was not limited to YSRCP. He cited purported attacks on Jana Sena leader Bellamkonda Srinivas's family and BJP candidate Suresh in Kadapa as additional instances of electoral violence during the nomination period.
What is YSRCP's political appeal ahead of the Guntur local body polls?
Despite the controversy, YSRCP is actively campaigning for its mayoral candidate Sridevi and its corporator candidates in Guntur, urging voters to support the party's 'fan' symbol and reject what it calls the ruling coalition's politics of intimidation.
