Attacks, obstruction, illegal arrests, house arrests and destruction of nomination papers continued across Andhra Pradesh during the MPTC and ZPTC nomination process, even after the Supreme Court intervened over violence and obstruction in the municipal elections. Candidates were stopped from reaching nomination centres, papers were snatched and torn, women were attacked, senior leaders were confined to their homes and police remained silent spectators at several places.
In Podili, Prakasam district, MPTC candidate Donapati Sravani was stopped while going to file her nomination. Her papers were snatched and torn, her saree was pulled and she was beaten until she bled. Police were present but failed to protect her. In Chapadu, YSR Kadapa district, nine-month pregnant Nandimandalam Prasanthi was stopped while proceeding to file her nomination for Vedururu MPTC. Her papers were snatched and torn. Candidates for Nakkaladinne and Alladupalle were also obstructed.
In Nizampatnam, Bapatla district, nomination papers were torn, a candidate’s car was damaged and Kokkiligadda Ravi, Yamineni Rambabu and Veerababu were injured. In Pedakurapadu, ZPTC candidate Duggi Chinnababu was attacked and his nomination papers were torn. Candidates were also obstructed in Achampet. Numerous leaders were detained across Bellamkonda, Achampet, Krosuru, Pedakurapadu and Amaravati mandals.
In Denduluru, Pedavegi and Pedapadu, candidates were prevented from filing nominations. Papers were torn in Denduluru, while leader Sai was attacked in Pedavegi and his papers were destroyed. In Lakkireddypalli, Delhi Viswanatha Reddy, Lakshmi Reddy and Mahendra Babu were attacked with sticks, their car was damaged and Mahendra Babu suffered serious injuries.
In Raptadu, MPTC candidate Venkatalakshmi and her husband Venkatarami Reddy were attacked and threatened with death if they filed the nomination. Armed groups gathered at nomination centres in Chennekothapalli, Kanaganapalli, Ramagiri and Atmakur. Former MLA Thopudurthi Prakash Reddy was placed under house arrest and Sunil Datta Reddy was arrested.
In Yellanur, candidates were obstructed and former MLA Kethireddy Pedda Reddy was confined at Timmapalli. Former Minister Sailajanath was also placed under house arrest. Candidates were attacked in Putlur, while nomination papers were torn in Guntakal. Former MLA Kethireddy Venkatarami Reddy was placed under house arrest in Dharmavaram, with similar obstruction reported in Bathalapalli, Tadimarri and Mudigubba.
In Veldurthi, stones and sticks were kept near the MPDO office, creating fear among candidates arriving to file nominations. Former Pattikonda MLA Kangati Sridevi was prevented from attending the nomination programme and staged a road protest.
In Chandragiri, leaders and workers were attacked with knives and stones and nomination papers were torn. Cases were registered against 15 persons, including family members of former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy. Chevireddy Mohith Reddy and Harshith Reddy were placed under house arrest in Tummalagunta. Similar obstruction and tearing of nomination papers occurred in Srikalahasti, Gangadhara Nellore, Pileru, Puthalapattu, Palamaner and Punganur.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Narayanaswamy and Krupa Lakshmi were confined in Gangadhara Nellore. Candidates in Karvetinagaram and G.D. Nellore were obstructed and their papers were snatched and torn. In Venkatagiri, MLA Ramakrishna openly called for stopping opposition nominations and spoke of breaking candidates’ legs if necessary. In Kota, 16 MPTC candidates faced police obstruction.
In Pileru, leaders and workers were stopped several kilometres away from nomination centres. In Chowdepalle, the house, shop and rooms of worker Jayachandra were demolished with a JCB after his participation in the nomination process.
In Pulivendula, police surrounded MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy’s residence, erected barbed-wire barricades and prevented him from leaving. He was later detained in Kadapa and shifted to Pulivendula. Police also surrounded the Kadapa party office and disconnected power while ZPTC candidates were inside.
In Badvel, Chitta Giri Praneeth Reddy was placed under house arrest and Kalluri Ramana Reddy was detained. District President P. Ravindranath Reddy, former Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha, MLC Ramachandra Reddy, Naren Reddy, Paka Suresh, Puli Sunil and others were shifted to Atlur Police Station.
In Jammalamadugu, police stopped leaders accompanying MPTC candidates at Gundlakunta, forcing MLC Ramasubba Reddy and others to stage a road protest. A two-wheeler was also burnt. In Ontimitta, Independent candidate Nandyala Venkatesh was prevented from filing his nomination for Gangaperuru MPTC.
In Atmakur Municipality, candidates Praveena and Badugu Srinivasulu found their nominations shown as withdrawn without their knowledge, raising a forged-signature controversy. In Pithapuram, Ward 27 candidate Kambhampati Sriram was taken away in a car, made to sign withdrawal papers and later draped with a Jana Sena scarf. Similar forged-signature complaints surfaced in Chittoor.
In Kuppam, Shantipuram convener Bullet Dandapani was detained and his whereabouts were not disclosed to his family. In Nellore, former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and MLC Chandrasekhar Reddy were placed under house arrest, minority leader Abdul Mastan was arrested and former Minister Nallapareddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy faced restrictions.
In Macherla, former MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy was confined behind barricades. Former MLA Bolla Brahmanaidu was placed under house arrest in Vinukonda, while Dr Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy faced restrictions in Narasaraopet. In Tuni, former Minister Dadisetti Raja was house-arrested after clashes at Thondangi. In Rayachoti, ZPTC candidate Devanada Reddy was confined. Tirupati MP Dr Maddila Gurumoorthy was also placed under house arrest.
In Kondapi, police barricades prevented candidates from reaching nomination centres until former Minister Adimulapu Suresh intervened. In Srikalahasti, candidate Haritha’s papers were torn, while Chevireddy Madhusudan Reddy was attacked and his papers destroyed. In Pakala, a candidate’s nomination papers were publicly torn in front of the media and police, followed by a threat that he would be carried on a bier if he returned to file again.
In Kalakada, BC candidates Chiranjeevi, Shankaramma and Radhika were attacked and their nomination papers torn. In Giddalur, TDP leaders entered the nomination centre and tore papers. Similar destruction of nomination papers occurred in Adoni.
In Krishnagiri, candidates and workers were stopped outside the village and police resorted to lathi-charge. In Ramakuppam, outsiders were brought in to intimidate candidates. In Somala, police themselves prevented MPTC candidates from filing nominations.
In Chowdepalle, Nagabhushan Reddy’s house and vehicles were damaged, while Srinivasulu Reddy was attacked. In Nandalur, two TDP factions clashed over the MPP post, forcing police to fire into the air. At SR Puram, tension erupted in the presence of the Collector and SP and police resorted to lathi-charge.
In Chapadu, Balayya, Yerragudi Srinivasulu Reddy and Mahesh Reddy were stopped and their nomination papers were torn. In Guntakal, officials failed to facilitate filing of nominations and acted in favour of ruling-party leaders.
In Tirupati Municipal Corporation, candidates in 21 wards could not file nominations following attacks, threats and destruction of papers. A representation was submitted to the Collector seeking another opportunity. In Gurazala, police obstructed an MPTC candidate. In Denduluru, former MLA Kotharu Abbayya Chowdary approached the Eluru Collector seeking protection, preservation of CCTV footage and a remedy for candidates whose papers were destroyed.
In Lingala, candidates sought an opportunity to file ZPTC nominations in nine places. In Sullurpet, former Municipal Chairman Dabbala Srimanth Reddy was placed under house arrest.
The continuing attacks, arrests and nomination obstruction forced leaders and MLCs to stage a protest at the State Election Commission office in Vijayawada, demanding protection for candidates and immediate action.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directions on October 21 to protect the right of candidates to file nominations and examine complaints arising from law-and-order disturbances, the same pattern of obstruction continued during the MPTC and ZPTC nomination process on October 22.
Candidates are being stopped at nomination-centre gates, papers are being snatched and torn, forced withdrawals are being engineered, opposition leaders are being placed under house arrest and those accompanying candidates are being arrested.
An election cannot be free and fair if a candidate is denied even the opportunity to submit a nomination. Every incident of violence, destruction of papers, forced withdrawal, intimidation and illegal detention requires an impartial inquiry, protection for affected candidates and a fresh lawful opportunity to file nominations wherever that right was denied.
