Violence erupts in Andhra polls: Vehicles torched, journalists attacked in Pulivendula

Violence marred municipal elections in Andhra Pradesh's Pulivendula, the hometown of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, with three cars, 10 two-wheelers and a tractor set ablaze, journalists assaulted and rival political parties trading allegations of electoral malpractice.

The clashes erupted during the November 1 elections in Kadapa district, prompting authorities to order fresh polling at four polling stations in Pulivendula Municipality on Monday.

The violence also triggered a political confrontation between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), with both sides accusing each other of orchestrating disturbances and attempting to influence the electoral process.

According to reports, the arson took place near a farm belonging to a person identified as Madhusudhan Reddy around midnight, hours before voting began. Three cars, 10 motorcycles and a tractor were destroyed in the incident.

Tensions subsequently escalated near polling stations as workers of the rival parties clashed, leading to allegations of intimidation, obstruction of voters and attacks on media personnel covering the elections.

𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱, 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱

Several journalists covering the municipal elections were allegedly assaulted near polling booths as violence spread through parts of Pulivendula.

An India Today television camera was smashed, while reporters and camera operators were reportedly attacked and their mobile phones snatched during the disturbances.

Among those injured were NTV reporter Suresh, India Today reporter Basheer and cameraman Vijay.

The attacks raised concerns about the safety of media personnel covering the elections and their ability to report from polling stations amid heightened political tensions.

Jagan Mohan Reddy subsequently met the injured journalists and condemned the violence, accusing the ruling party of attempting to suppress reporting on alleged electoral irregularities.

𝗝𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴

Addressing reporters in Pulivendula, the YSRCP president accused the TDP-led government of undermining the electoral process through booth capturing, bogus voting and intimidation.

He alleged that ruling party workers had occupied polling stations as early as 4 am and forcibly collected voters' slips, preventing several people from exercising their franchise.

Jagan further claimed that YSRCP polling agents were denied entry into 70 of the 80 polling booths in Pulivendula.

He also accused police personnel of favouring the ruling party and turning away voters instead of ensuring that polling was conducted fairly.

The former Chief Minister alleged that some councillor candidates had been forcibly detained and that journalists attempting to document the disturbances were targeted.

Questioning the functioning of the State Election Commission, he claimed that Supreme Court directions were not being followed and that adequate video recording and CCTV surveillance arrangements were absent inside polling booths.

The allegations have not been independently established.

𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗦𝗥𝗖𝗣 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Andhra Pradesh Education and Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh rejected Jagan's allegations and accused the YSRCP of creating disturbances during the elections.

Lokesh questioned the former Chief Minister's criticism of the electoral process, referring to the YSRCP's unanimous victories in Pulivendula during its tenure in government.

He challenged Jagan to explain how those elections had been conducted without opposition participation.

The minister maintained that the present government was committed to conducting elections democratically and had ensured that candidates could file nominations without intimidation.

He said police protection had been provided to candidates who sought assistance during the nomination process.

Lokesh also accused YSRCP leaders of instigating law-and-order problems, alleging that vehicles were set ablaze and people attacked before responsibility was shifted to the ruling TDP.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘀

Following complaints of electoral malpractice and disturbances, fresh polling was ordered at four polling stations in Pulivendula Municipality on Monday.

The repolling covers wards 1, 3, 7 and 8, where concerns had been raised over the conduct of voting.

The decision came amid demands for action against those responsible for the violence and allegations that voters and polling agents had been prevented from participating freely in the electoral process.

Municipal elections were held across 100 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh on November 1, including 13 municipal corporations and 87 municipalities and nagar panchayats.

Voting began at 7 am, with electors arriving at polling stations from the early morning hours.

While polling was largely peaceful across the state, Pulivendula witnessed significant disturbances, bringing the electoral contest in Jagan Mohan Reddy's political stronghold under scrutiny.

The incidents have intensified the confrontation between the TDP and YSRCP, with the rival parties offering sharply different accounts of the violence and the circumstances surrounding the disputed polling.