Published Oct 19, 2026 | 6:40 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 19, 2026 | 6:40 PM
YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the TDP of resorting to high-handedness.
Synopsis: The YSRCP has moved the Supreme Court alleging that violence and threats prevented its candidates from filing nominations for Andhra Pradesh’s urban local body elections, seeking police protection and an extension of the deadline. The petition challenges the High Court’s refusal to extend the nomination period and seeks a stay on declaring candidates elected unopposed in affected wards.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has moved the Supreme Court, alleging that violence and threats prevented its candidates from filing nominations for the urban local body elections in Andhra Pradesh, LiveLaw reported. The party has sought police protection for its candidates, an extension of the nomination deadline and additional or alternative centres for filing nomination papers.
The special leave petition, filed on Sunday, 18 October, through party general secretary Lella Appireddy, challenges the Andhra Pradesh High Court order rejecting its plea for a one-day extension. The High Court held that the deadline had expired and that extending it would interfere with the election process.
The YSRCP has also sought a stay on the declaration of candidates as elected unopposed in the affected wards pending further orders from the Supreme Court. It argues that courts must intervene when violence and intimidation prevent candidates from contesting elections.
The party contends that the bar on judicial interference in elections is a rule of restraint, not an absolute prohibition. It argues that the restriction on challenging elections outside the prescribed election petition process does not prevent constitutional courts from issuing directions to ensure that candidates can contest.
The nomination process, which began on 16 October and ended on 18 October, saw clashes between the cadres of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSRCP.
YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the TDP of resorting to high-handedness across the State, using the police as a shield and having false cases registered against opposition leaders.
In Punganur, Annamayya district, TDP factions confronted YSRCP cadres heading to the nomination centre at Basavaraja Government Junior College on Friday. The confrontation led to attacks by both sides.
TDP members also attacked vehicles belonging to YSRCP leaders, pelting them with stones and sticks. The convoy of YSRCP MP Peddireddy Mithun Reddy was among those attacked, and vehicles were vandalised and set on fire.
Suspecting that its candidates would be stopped from filing nominations in Punganur, Mithun Reddy accompanied them to the centre, followed by a large rally of YSRCP activists.
The MP entered the centre under police protection and remained inside for more than an hour. When rival supporters attempted to attack him, his gunman fired shots into the air.
Even before nominations opened, the YSRCP had approached the High Court seeking the deployment of central forces for the local body elections. After the violence, it also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.
The party accused the police of failing to provide security during the nomination process and ignoring its requests for paramilitary forces. It alleged that kidnappings and other atrocities were taking place on the first day of nominations.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
