3 cars, 10 bikes, tractor set ablaze as poll violence rocks Andhra's Pulivendula

YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the ruling TDP of booth capturing and voter intimidation, while Minister Nara Lokesh blamed the opposition for instigating violence.

In Short

• Clashes erupt between TDP and YSRCP workers in Andhra's Pulivendula
• 3 cars, 10 two-wheelers and a tractor burnt in arson ahead of municipal polls
• Jagan Mohan Reddy accused TDP of booth capturing, Nara Lokesh hits back

Three cars, 10 two-wheelers and a tractor were gutted in an arson incident in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district as tensions escalated in Pulivendula during the November 1 municipal elections. The incident took place near a farm belonging to an individual identified as Madhusudhan Reddy around midnight, hours before polling began.

The arson was followed by clashes between workers of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on polling day, with both sides trading allegations of violence and electoral malpractice in Pulivendula, the hometown of YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Journalists covering the elections were also attacked near polling booths. An India Today TV camera was smashed, while reporter and a cameraman were assaulted. Journalists' mobile phones were also reportedly snatched during the incident.

NTV reporter Suresh, India Today reporter Basheer and cameraman Vijay were among those injured in the attack. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy later met the injured journalists.

The violence triggered a political confrontation, with Jagan Mohan Reddy accusing the TDP-led government of undermining democracy through booth capturing, bogus voting and obstruction of voters.

Speaking to reporters in Pulivendula, the former Chief Minister alleged that TDP workers had occupied polling booths as early as 4 am and forcibly taken away voters' slips, preventing people from exercising their franchise.

He claimed that YSRCP polling agents were denied entry into 70 of the 80 polling booths in Pulivendula. He also alleged that police personnel were turning away voters and favouring the ruling party.

Jagan further claimed that councillor candidates were forcibly detained and journalists covering the elections were targeted, with cameras belonging to private news channels damaged and reporters assaulted.

Questioning the functioning of the State Election Commission, he alleged that Supreme Court directions were not being followed and that there was no video recording or CCTV surveillance inside polling booths.

Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh hit back at Jagan, questioning his allegations of electoral irregularities in Pulivendula. He pointed out that the YSRCP had secured unanimous victories in Pulivendula during Jagan's tenure as Chief Minister and challenged him to explain how such elections were conducted without opposition participation.

Lokesh said the present government was ensuring that elections were conducted democratically and that no one was prevented from filing nominations. He added that police protection had been provided to candidates who wanted to file their nominations.

He accused YSRCP leaders of creating law-and-order problems, alleging that vehicles were set on fire and people attacked, with the blame subsequently being shifted to the TDP.

Elections to 100 urban local bodies (ULBs), including 13 municipal corporations and 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats, were held on November 1. Polling began at 7 am, with voters turning up at polling stations from the early hours.

While polling was largely peaceful across the state, incidents of violence were reported in Kadapa district, particularly in Pulivendula.

Amid allegations of electoral malpractice, fresh polling was ordered at four polling stations in Pulivendula Municipality on Monday. The repolling will cover Ward Nos. 1, 3, 7 and 8.

- Ends