Jagan demands President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh

Chandrababu is mocking democracy because he is afraid of defeat. Despite having the administration, police and officials on his side, he lacks the confidence to face the people’s verdict Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Regret backing 2023 CEC appointment Law: Jagan

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has expressed regret over his party’s support for the 2023 law that changed the process for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). “At that time, YSRCP supported this process, under which the ruling party at the Centre nominates the members. But today, we regret it. We regret having supported it and admit that we made a mistake," he added.

Under the law, the selection panel comprises the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The legislation replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet minister in the selection panel.

Reddy, whose YSRCP has supported the BJP-led government on several key Bills in Parliament over the years, said his party now believes the Election Commission appointments should be made through a neutral mechanism.

“Whether it is the Election Commissioner or the Chief Election Commissioner at the Centre, a situation should never arise where they are nominated by the ruling parties," Reddy said.

metro india news  I AMARAVATI

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday demanded the imposition of President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh, alleging that the constitutional machinery had completely failed and that the ruling coalition was systematically undermining democracy during the ongoing local body election process.

Addressing the media, Jagan accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of using the police, officials and ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) cadres to prevent Opposition candidates from filing nominations. He alleged that nomination papers were being snatched, candidates and their supporters intimidated, vehicles attacked and false cases foisted, all under the watch of the police.

“Chandrababu is mocking democracy because he is afraid of defeat. Despite having the administration, police and officials on his side, he lacks the confidence to face the people’s verdict,” Jagan alleged, asserting that his party would continue its fight against what he described as an undemocratic election process.

The YSRCP chief claimed that candidates were obstructed at several places, including Punganur, Kadapa, Tirupati, Pulivendula, Kamalapuram, Rayachoti, Darsi, Gurazala, Dachepalli, Piduguralla, Badvel and Rajampeta. He alleged that party representatives, including MPs, were prevented from accompanying candidates to nomination centres and that nomination papers were either rejected or not accepted.

Referring to the alleged police excesses at Pulivendula, Jagan claimed that the police behaved like TDP workers, resorting to stone-pelting and firing into the air to intimidate candidates. He questioned the authorities’ alleged double standards, claiming that TDP supporters were permitted to gather in large numbers while YSRCP candidates faced restrictions even when accompanied by the permitted number of people.

Jagan also questioned the timing of the election notification, alleging that reservations were announced just two days before the nomination schedule, leaving the Opposition with insufficient time to prepare. He argued that the government had an advantage because it was privy to the information in advance.

He further alleged that the electoral process was compromised by ward and division delimitation undertaken to favour the ruling coalition. Citing the identification of 46 lakh suspected fake voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), he questioned the decision to proceed with the elections without revising the voter lists. These claims could not be independently verified.

The former Chief Minister contrasted the present situation with the local body elections conducted during his government, when Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar was the State Election Commissioner. Jagan said the YSRCP had secured an overwhelming victory despite the commissioner’s perceived proximity to the TDP, arguing that his government had not resorted to similar tactics.

He also questioned the system of appointing election commissioners through political processes, contending that it raised concerns about the independence of electoral institutions. The controversy has intensified following clashes in Punganur in Annamayya district, where YSRCP MP Peddireddy Mithun Reddy reportedly accompanied party candidates to file nominations, triggering a confrontation between TDP and YSRCP supporters. 

While the YSRCP alleged that its MP and party workers were attacked, the TDP blamed the Opposition for the violence. Police reportedly attributed the tension to the presence of a large number of supporters accompanying the MP, allegedly in violation of nomination-centre restrictions.

Both parties have lodged complaints with the State Election Commission, which is understood to have sought reports on the incidents.

Jagan maintained that the alleged obstruction of nominations demonstrated the coalition government’s reluctance to face a free and fair election. He warned that officials and others responsible for any wrongdoing would eventually be held accountable.

Despite the alleged intimidation, he said, the YSRCP would continue its political and legal fight, expressing confidence that the electorate would ultimately judge the government’s performance and its handling of the elections.