Published Oct 23, 2026 | 3:31 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 23, 2026 | 4:14 PM
YS Jagan demanded that the Supreme Court appoint an Amicus Curiae regarding the prevailing conditions in the state. (Screengrab)
YSRCP President YS Jagan alleged that the Chandrababu government is murdering democracy in the local body elections. Questioning why the TDP is preventing YSRCP candidates from filing nominations if it is confident of winning the elections, Jagan stated that they would continue their legal battle over the prevailing conditions in Andhra Pradesh.
He remarked that there has been no change in the situation even after the Supreme Court’s orders, and the same anarchy seen during the municipal nominations is continuing in the MPTC and ZPTC elections as well.
He demanded that the Supreme Court appoint an Amicus Curiae regarding the prevailing conditions in the state and conduct the elections under their supervision.
For the elections to be held smoothly, he demanded the transfer of the DGP, SPs, Collectors, and the police personnel who carried out attacks. He stated that despite filing a complaint identifying and seeking action against 59 DSPs and CIs who cooperated with TDP attacks and prevented candidates from filing nominations, no action was taken.
Jagan demanded that they be removed from election duties, central forces be deployed, and CCTV be made available at polling stations, nomination centers, and counting centers.
He warned that if these conditions continue, just as nomination papers are being snatched and torn today, properties will face the same fate tomorrow, and there will be no protection for people’s assets. He called upon the people themselves to rebel and protect democracy.
Speaking at a meeting held at the Tadepalli party office, Jagan questioned how their party candidates could file nominations if the Election Commissioner and DGP, who do not follow Supreme Court orders, continue in office.
He said they have already complained to the Governor and the SEC regarding the violence taking place in the local elections, and have also approached the Supreme Court. He noted that the Supreme Court also made serious remarks on the developments taking place in the state and directed that the final list of candidates be postponed until October 25.
Jagan added that the complaints and applications of those who could not file nominations due to law and order issues be examined and they be allowed to file their nominations.
Jagan further asked what it means when, in local body elections contested on party lines, his party has to plead for its candidates to be allowed to file nominations while the opposing side blocks them from doing so. He questioned what the inability of candidates to file nominations signifies, adding that every system in the state has deteriorated. Had the election system functioned properly, he said, their party’s candidates would have been allowed to file their nominations.
He asked why YSRCP candidates are still not being allowed to file their nominations, even though the Supreme Court has clearly stated that they must be permitted to do so and has ordered the process to be conducted transparently. Jagan said that if the TDP and Chandrababu believe they have done good for the people, they should allow YSRCP candidates to file nominations and seek the people’s verdict. He questioned the meaning behind wanting to declare a one-sided verdict without letting nominations be filed. He alleged that, without having done any good for the people, they want to decide democracy unilaterally.
The YSRCP chief said the Supreme Court had assessed the situation in the state and ordered the DGP to provide security to those coming to file nominations, as well as to arrange police bandobast and CCTV footage, and that the Supreme Court clearly stated that courts would intervene if violence undermines equal opportunities to contest elections.
Even after all this, he said. “Despite the Supreme Court delivering a verdict with clear directives, there has been no change in Chandrababu, the State Election Commission, the DGP—who has become a puppet in Chandrababu’s hands—or in the DIGs, SPs, and Collectors.”
Jagan reiterated that even though the Supreme Court issued orders, they are disregarding them.
Expressing outrage, he stated that AP CM Chandrababu and the Election Commission are acting maliciously. Although complaints with evidence were filed about the TDP preventing nominations in 19 municipalities, he said, re-nomination was granted for all wards only in Mydukur, while orders for re-nomination were issued for just a few places in Tirupati, Kadapa, and Rajampet.
He alleged that even after the court was informed and proof was submitted, the Election Commission merely implemented Chandrababu’s orders. Jagan remarked that, at this rate, they might as well appoint candidates without holding elections at all.
He pointed out that while there are 66 wards in Kadapa, they are saying re-nominations will be accepted in only 11 wards; initially, they ensured there was a contest in only two wards, and he questioned how allowing YSRCP candidates to contest in only a total of 13 wards can be called democracy.
In Rajampet, out of 32 wards, they initially allowed a contest in only 3 wards, and in re-nomination, permitted 11 places, meaning the Election Commission decided that YSRCP candidates should contest in only 14 out of 32 wards; he demanded to know whether the Election Commission is following the orders of the Supreme Court or the orders of Chandrababu.
He stated that when details were submitted showing that nominations were not allowed in 19 municipalities due to attacks by the TDP and obstruction by the police, the Election Commission rejected nominations in the name of scrutiny, ensuring there was either no contest or only a nominal contest in a total of 23 urban municipal bodies.
Jagan alleged that candidates were physically blocked in Gooty, Mydukur, Rajampet, Tirupati, Pulivendula, Kadapa, Tadipatri, Kanigiri, and Badvel, while in Chittoor, Nellore, and Nagari, they were prevented from contesting in the name of scrutiny.
He stated that in 15 out of the 23 municipalities, there are no municipal chairman candidates in the fray at all, and in Gurazala, Dachepalli, Piduguralla, Punganur, Mydukur, and Yerraguntla, nominations of municipal chairperson candidates were not even permitted. Jagan alleged that elections are being conducted in 23 bodies without chairman candidates. He added that among the 23 municipalities, there are places where not even a single nomination was filed.
He alleged that even though the MPTC and ZPTC notification came after the Supreme Court’s orders, there has been no change in the state, and violent activities are continuing.
Jagan alleged that out of 659 mandals, MPTCs did not file nominations in 101 mandals, and YSRCP candidates are being prevented from filing nominations at the nomination centers. He stated that there are 70 mandals where fewer than 5 nominations were filed, and in total, 171 mandals saw low nominations.
In ZPTCs, nominations are pending in 227 out of 659 places, he said. Jagan alleged that Chandrababu and police officials are responsible for the attacks on YSRCP candidates during the local elections. He questioned how elections can be held impartially and how the situation can change without removing those responsible from election duties.
Jagan alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu has stooped from rigging polling stations to rigging nomination centers. Looking at the incidents that occurred during the elections, Jagan alleged that Chandrababu is engaging in a systematic conspiracy to turn the state into a cauldron of chaos (Ravana Kashtam).
He stated that preventing the filing of nominations, police intimidation, bind-over conspiracies, and preventive arrests were implemented. In the second phase, they committed irregularities such as placing leaders under house arrest, taking over nomination centers to prevent opposition candidates from entering, tearing up nomination papers, and withdrawing nominations using forged signatures, he explained.
Jagan alleged that in Nagari, they forged signatures to show that the municipal chairperson candidate had withdrawn from the contest and declared it unanimous. He stated that the YSRCP will continue its legal battle over these developments.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
