Jagan Reddy Warns Andhra Police Officials They Will Be Held Accountable Even After Retirement

Addressing party cadres in his home constituency of Pulivendula in YSR Kadapa district ahead of the local body elections, Jagan accused the ruling coalition of undermining democratic principles by allegedly misusing official machinery and preventing Opposition candidates from filing nominations.

He reminded police officials that their duty was to the Constitution rather than Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Referring to the three lions on their caps, he urged them to remember their constitutional oath and act accordingly.

The former Chief Minister alleged that the ruling coalition was conducting elections on an uneven playing field because it had failed to fulfil its poll promises and feared a genuine electoral contest. He said all political parties should receive equal opportunities to contest elections.

Jagan maintained that arrests, police cases and harassment were not new to the YSRCP, which, he said, had emerged in Opposition and overcome challenges with public support. He added that people were discussing the differences between his administration and Naidu's government and would deliver their verdict in the coming elections.

“Three years have passed. Only two years remain. After that comes YS Jagan 2.0. If YS Jagan is one, the party worker is two,” he said.

Jagan Alleges Irregularities in Nomination Process

Comparing Naidu to Shakuni, the scheming character from the Mahabharata, Jagan accused the ruling coalition of seeking electoral victories through alleged manipulation rather than public support.

He claimed that the current local body elections had moved beyond conventional allegations of booth rigging to what he described as “nomination rigging”, with candidates allegedly being prevented from submitting their nomination papers.

“You contest, I contest, and whoever receives the people’s vote should win. That is Democracy. Preventing opponents from contesting and then claiming victory is shameful,” Jagan said.

He criticised the coalition for celebrating its reported gains in 17 Urban Local Bodies, including 15 chairperson posts for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), one for Jana Sena and one for the BJP. He also questioned claims that 21 per cent of the 2,108 wards had been won unopposed.

Jagan argued that victories secured by denying opponents the opportunity to contest could not be considered genuine electoral mandates. He challenged Naidu to face the Opposition in a fair election.

Citing Pulivendula, Jagan alleged that nominations could be filed in only 20 of the constituency's 40 wards. Of the seven Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) seats, he said, contests were permitted in only four.

He further alleged that nomination papers were snatched and torn, while other candidates' papers were rejected during scrutiny.

Allegations of Police Force and Criminal Cases

Jagan claimed that candidates seeking permission to submit nominations were subjected to lathi-charges. He alleged that police fired 37 rounds, injuring two people in the legs, and used 20 stun shells, 40 smoke shells and seven hand grenades.

“Was filing a nomination their only crime?” he asked.

The YSRCP chief also claimed that attempt-to-murder cases had been registered against 924 people in Pulivendula following police firing on party workers.

He alleged that there had been no meaningful change in the conduct of Chief Minister Naidu, the State Election Commission (SEC), district collectors or superintendents of police, despite directions from the Supreme Court.

In Kadapa district, Jagan claimed, elections were prevented in 17 of 39 ZPTC seats. He alleged that candidates were barred from filing nominations in six locations, while nominations in another 11 places were rejected after midnight during scrutiny.

Pulivendula to Be Starting Point of Statewide Movement

Calling on party workers to resist what he described as electoral injustice, Jagan said the movement to protect democracy should begin in Pulivendula and expand across Andhra Pradesh.

He told cadres that their problems were his own and credited the people of Pulivendula with supporting him after the death of his father, saying their backing had helped him become Chief Minister.

“Pulivendula would become the starting point of a statewide movement to protect Democracy,” he said.

Jagan also announced that he would return to the constituency a day before polling and personally cast his vote on election day. He urged voters to remain courageous and ensure they could express their choices freely.

Despite what he described as restrictions on the number of wards and ZPTC seats in which his party could contest, Jagan said the YSRCP would continue its fight for what it considers a fair electoral process.