Jungle Raj… Democracy in Distress!

Published On: November 2, 2026 5:53 pm

02.11.2026

Election process reduced to a farce across the State by the excesses of TDP leaders
Chandrababu murdered democracy in broad daylight
YSRCP agents obstructed in 70 booths in Pulivendula
TDP workers attacked Prameelamma and woman polling agent Sunanda
Brutal attack on candidate Archana Murthy and her husband in Vinukonda
Booth occupation and rigging in Macherla
Polling agent forms torn in Kadapa
Agents driven out and rigging carried out in Chilakaluripet
Police attack on Chairperson candidate in Madanapalle
Journalists attacked and cameras damaged in Pulivendula
Ballot symbols interchanged in Vijayawada, controversy over cameras in Tirupati
If irregularities took place across the State, why was repolling not ordered everywhere?
SEC, police and officials working in collusion
Democracy being destroyed while extending support to the Chandrababu government
Agent slips torn, voters driven away and widespread rigging carried out
Public anger over the dangerous precedent set by Chandrababu

The Urban Local Body elections held in Andhra Pradesh yesterday, November 1, will remain a black day in the history of democracy. The violence and the manner in which rigging was carried out have become a matter of discussion across the country. The attacks and intimidation that began at the nomination stage became even more severe on polling day. Attacks on YSRCP candidates, removal of polling agents, snatching of voter slips, occupation of booths and casting of bogus votes took place openly in front of the police and election officials.

YSRCP said no further evidence was needed to show that the Chandrababu government was murdering democracy in broad daylight. People were denied the freedom to vote, and elections were converted from a democratic contest into a process resembling appointments made by the ruling party. YSRCP leaders said Jungle Raj was prevailing under Chandrababu’s rule and that the electoral system itself was being trampled upon.

Attacks on Women in Pulivendula

The incidents in Pulivendula became a major issue across the State. YSRCP agents were not allowed in 70 of the 80 polling booths in the municipality.
In Ward 21, TDP workers attacked YSRCP Municipal Chairperson candidate Y.S. Prameelamma.
In Ward 31, woman polling agent Sunanda was attacked and her hand was fractured.
Several workers were injured in a stone-pelting attack near the Saraswathi Vidyamandir polling station in Ward 38, while the husband of a councillor candidate was also attacked.
Women voters in Rajareddy Colony suffered head injuries.
Hundreds of voters protested near the Boys Junior College, saying that others were casting their votes.
Following these developments, YS Jagan staged a protest outside the Returning Officer’s office and demanded repolling in Pulivendula.

Candidate and Husband Attacked in Vinukonda

In Palnadu district too, YSRCP candidates, workers and agents were attacked. In Vinukonda Municipality Ward 8, YSRCP councillor candidate Poluru Archana Murthy and her husband Narasimha Murthy were dragged out of the polling station and beaten.
TDP workers punched Archana Murthy in the face. YSRCP agents were obstructed at several booths and attempts were made to rig the polling.
Large-scale irregularities took place in 71 booths across 36 wards in Macherla. Barricades and iron fencing were erected around former MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy’s residence and he was placed under house arrest. Several candidates were taken into custody.
Former Vinukonda MLA Bolla Brahma Naidu was arrested at midnight and shifted to Narasaraopet.

Agents Driven Out and Rigging in Chilakaluripet

In Chilakaluripet Ward 14, YSRCP agents were forcibly dragged out, booth doors were shut and rigging was carried out.
Similar rigging took place in Dasari Colony in Ward 5.
Agents were subjected to intimidation in Wards 34, 35, 36 and 37.
People from other villages were brought and stationed near polling centres.
Ward 27 candidate Annapureddy Srilakshmi was prevented from entering the booth.
In Macherla Ward 6, candidate Sabbasani Anjali complained that her voter slip was snatched and that someone else cast a vote in her name.
YSRCP questioned what would happen to ordinary voters if even candidates themselves were denied the opportunity to vote.

Polling Agent Documents Torn in Kadapa

Large numbers of complaints were received in Kadapa city over obstruction of polling agents.
In Division 8, appointment documents of YSRCP agents for six polling booths were snatched and torn.
In Division 41, agents were dragged out and attacked.
Women agents were verbally abused.
Mayor candidate Bandi Deepthi questioned police over obstruction of agents in Divisions 61 and 62 and at polling centres in the Women’s College and Mariyapuram Junior College.
In Jammalamadugu, complaints were received that police stopped Chairperson candidate Haimavathi and lathi-charged workers who questioned the irregularities.
YSRCP questioned how transparency in elections could be guaranteed if the very agents meant to monitor voting were removed.

Serious Charges Over Police Conduct

In Madanapalle, YSRCP Municipal Chairperson candidate Jinka Venkata Chalapathi said that despite possessing an official pass, he was denied entry into Polling Station 16 and was beaten with lathis and kicked by police when he questioned them.
TDP workers attacked YSRCP workers with sticks in several divisions of Anantapur.
Guntur Division 59 candidate Dhanavath Venkateswarlu Naik and woman leader Nagamanjari Chowdary in Tenali were attacked.
Police restrictions and house arrests were imposed on Darsi MLA Buchepalli Siva Prasad Reddy in Chimakurthy, former minister Vidadala Rajini in Chilakaluripet and former MLA Kethireddy Peddareddy in Tadipatri.
YSRCP expressed anger that police, whose duty was to maintain law and order, instead acted against its candidates and leaders.

Attacks on Media Personnel

Attacks on journalists who went to cover electoral irregularities in Pulivendula caused serious concern.
India Today reporter Basheer, cameraperson Vijay and NTV reporter Suresh were attacked. Their cameras and other equipment were damaged.
Journalists covering the elections were threatened and attempts were made to drive them away, but neither the SEC nor the State government responded.
YS Jagan met the injured media personnel and enquired about their condition.
YSRCP expressed anger that even media freedom had no protection when journalists were trying to show the public what was happening inside polling stations.

Ballot Symbols Interchanged, Controversy Over Cameras

In Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Division 55, confusion arose after the election symbols of the YSRCP and Congress candidates were printed against the wrong names on ballot papers.
The hand symbol was printed against YSRCP candidate Shaik Hasan Basha’s name, while the fan symbol appeared against the Congress candidate’s name. Officials stopped polling and restarted it with corrected ballot papers.
As polling was delayed, voting time in the division was extended until 7.30 PM.
In Tirupati Ward 16 and in LB Nagar and Amaravati Nagar areas, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy objected to the removal of web cameras. He sought repolling, pointing to rigging in several wards.
Questions were also raised over the functioning of cameras and monitoring systems meant to record the election process.

Booth Occupations

Despite so many irregularities occurring openly, the SEC appeared not to take note of them. As a token measure, polling was cancelled only at a few centres and repolling was ordered for November 2.
Repolling was ordered at only 13 polling stations: four in Pulivendula, three in Jammalamadugu, two in Macherla, and one each in Kadapa, Anantapur, Chimakurthy and Tirupati.
The Election Commission itself acknowledging that polling was affected at some centres due to booth occupation makes it clear that TDP workers disrupted not only the election process but also polling stations and the voting rights of citizens.
YSRCP expressed anger over State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha saying that polling was peaceful in most areas of the State despite the widespread incidents.

Election Freedom Demands an Answer

YSRCP demanded a comprehensive inquiry into TDP excesses from the nomination stage until the completion of polling. It called for an independent investigation into complaints of attacks on candidates, women polling agents, ordinary voters and media personnel, as well as booth occupation, obstruction of voters, police action and the conduct of election officials.

The party said that democratic elections require not only the right to vote, but also the right to contest freely and the right to monitor polling. YSRCP said all these rights were being trampled upon under the Chandrababu government and that conditions resembling Jungle Raj had emerged in the State.

YSRCP said public confidence in the election process could be restored only through an impartial inquiry, preservation of evidence, action against those responsible and repolling wherever necessary.