Vijayawada: YSRCP president and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged Governor S Abdul Nazeer to intervene in the urban local body election process, alleging that candidates from his party were being prevented from filing nominations through intimidation and misuse of the police machinery by the ruling coalition.
After meeting the Governor at Lok Bhavan, Jagan said he had explained the alleged practices and sought the deployment of central forces and CCTV surveillance through the election process to ensure free and fair polls.
He said YSRCP candidates were being blocked from filing nominations while Telugu Desam Party supporters were allowed into nomination centres in large numbers, where attacks were carried out on his party's candidates. He also alleged that the police were siding with the ruling coalition.
"In eight places in the state, no nominations were filed. In 19 places, only 36 per cent of nomination papers were filed, while in eight other places the nomination papers of YSRCP candidates were torn up," Jagan said. In Pulivendula, he said, only 19 nominations were filed across 36 wards.
He alleged that violence had occurred in Tirupati, Kadapa, Kamalapuram, Rayachoti, Punganur, Darsi, Gurazala, Dachepalli, Piduguralla, Badvel and Rajampet, among other places.
Earlier, Jagan met State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha and submitted a complaint with what he called evidence. He said the Commissioner assured him that everyone willing to contest would be given an opportunity to file nomination papers.
He said all options, including legal remedies, would be explored. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has accused Jagan of double standards on the conduct of election authorities.