Published Oct 22, 2026 | 6:54 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 22, 2026 | 6:54 PM
Several candidates had their nomination papers snatched away and torn up.
Synopsis: Violence and intimidation marred the second day of MPTC and ZPTC nominations in Andhra Pradesh, with candidates, chiefly from the YSRCP, blocked from filing papers, nomination documents torn up and women candidates attacked at several centres. Clashes involving ruling TDP factions also left vehicles damaged and destroyed, while the YSRCP accused the ruling party and police of failing to protect candidates and ensure a free nomination process.
Violence and intimidation continued to mar the second day of nominations for the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, 22 October. Candidates in several constituencies, particularly those from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), were blocked from filing their nomination papers. Women candidates were attacked, and their papers snatched and torn up.
The violence continued despite police deployment at nomination centres, while clashes between rival factions of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also left vehicles damaged and destroyed.
Polling for the MPTC and ZPTC elections is scheduled for 3 November. Re-polling, wherever required, will take place on 4 November, with counting and declaration of results on 5 November. Nominations will be accepted until 23 October, followed by scrutiny on 24 October. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until 27 October, when the final list will also be published.
In several districts, YSRCP candidates and workers staged protests after being denied access to nomination centres. At some places, nomination papers were snatched from candidates or election officials, while stone-pelting and physical attacks left workers injured.
The developments prompted YSRCP leaders to protest at the State Election Commission (SEC) office, accusing the ruling party and the police of obstructing the nomination process and demanding action against those responsible.
The party said the incidents showed that the irregularities it had alleged during the municipal elections were being repeated in the MPTC and ZPTC elections. YSRCP leaders also cited Supreme Court directions to the Director-General of Police (DGP) on ensuring candidates’ safety, alleging that the orders had not translated into protection on the ground.
Also Read: House arrests of YSRCP leaders amid ZPTC, MPTC nominations in Andhra Pradesh
In Venkatagiri constituency in Tirupati district, a video of MLA Ramakrishna calling on his cadres to “break the legs” of those coming to file nominations went viral on social media.
Speaking at a private marriage hall in Kaluvoya, the MLA urged his supporters to stop YSRCP members by all means, prevent them from filing their nominations and break their legs.
In Ramachandrapuram in Chandragiri constituency, Tirupati district, YSRCP candidates staged a sit-in on the road after being prevented from filing their MPTC nominations. Party leaders and workers joined the protest in large numbers, causing a traffic jam on the Tirupati–Pichikapallam road.
In Nandalur in Kadapa district, a clash broke out between two TDP factions supporting rival candidates.
The groups led by the followers of TDP leaders Balasubramanyam and Eddula Vijayasagar pelted stones at each other. TDP official spokesperson Balasubramanyam fired five rounds into the air during the clash. One car was vandalised, another was set on fire by rivals, and two two-wheelers were destroyed.
In Raptadu constituency in Anantapur district, YSRCP workers were injured after rivals pelted stones at them during the nominations. Followers of TDP MLA Paritala Sunitha also blocked YSRCP candidates from filing their papers across Raptadu, Atmakur and Anantapur Rural mandals. YSRCP leaders alleged that the police ignored attacks on their houses in Raptadu.
In Gorantla mandal of Penukonda constituency, Anantapur district, TDP leader Subbareddy, key aide to Minister Savitha, entered the returning officer’s room while YSRCP MPTC candidates were submitting their papers. He snatched the nomination papers from the election official’s hands and tore them up, according to visuals of the incident that emerged.
In Markapuram constituency in Prakasam district, rivals tore up the nomination papers of a woman YSRCP MPTC candidate, prompting her to protest against TDP cadres. At the nomination centre in Podili, YSRCP candidate Dopati Sravani of Sudanagunta alleged that she was attacked and her papers were torn up while the police watched.
In Chittoor district, a mob misbehaved with young women arriving at an MPTC and ZPTC nomination centre with their papers. The women were touched inappropriately and the crowd tried to snatch their documents, forcing them to flee towards the centre. The police eventually dispersed the crowd. Visuals of the women running into the nomination centre went viral.
In Koduru mandal of Railway Koduru constituency in Tirupati district, YSRCP candidate and former Market Yard chairman Muddaluru Subbaramaraju was prevented from filing his MPTC nomination. He pleaded with the police and held their feet, asking to be allowed inside the nomination centre, but was dragged aside.
In Thondangi mandal of Tuni constituency in Kakinada district, a clash broke out between TDP and YSRCP workers after YSRCP leaders were prevented from filing their nominations.
At the Nakarikallu MPDO office in Palnadu district, YSRCP leaders tore up the nomination papers of TDP MPTC candidates, triggering a clash between the two groups. The police dispersed them.
In Pullampeta in Railway Koduru constituency, YSRCP workers blocked the national highway to protest against the alleged obstruction of nominations and irregularities in the process. The blockade brought vehicular traffic to a standstill.
YSRCP leaders staged a sit-in at the Election Commission office after State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha did not initially grant them an appointment to submit a complaint about the disturbances during the nomination process.
The leaders demanded action against those obstructing nominations and raised slogans against the SEC’s handling of their complaint. They submitted a representation after Punetha granted them an appointment.
YSRCP leader Lella Appi Reddy alleged that the ruling party was using the police to prevent opposition candidates from filing nominations. He said candidates were being threatened with false ganja cases and rowdy sheets, while party leaders were being placed under house arrest.
He also alleged that candidates were being attacked, nomination papers were being snatched from election officials and torn up inside nomination centres, and party workers were being intimidated through head injuries, stabbings, lathi charges and illegal arrests.
“When TDP candidates are filing nominations everywhere, why are only YSRCP candidates facing obstacles? Who is being attacked? Whose heads are being broken? The Election Commission must answer,” he demanded.
Appi Reddy said the Supreme Court’s directions had not been implemented on the ground and held the Election Commission responsible for protecting candidates and ensuring that they could file nominations without obstruction.
YSRCP MLC Kalpalatha Reddy alleged that repeated complaints to the Election Commission had failed to address serious lapses in the enforcement of its orders. She said the government and officials had not responded even when women candidates were attacked and their sarees pulled.
She demanded that the Supreme Court’s guidelines be followed and candidates be allowed to file nominations freely. The YSRCP, she said, would continue its legal battle until justice was served.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
