KADAPA: The ZPTC by-elections in Pulivendula and Vontimitta turned volatile on Tuesday, marked by clashes, voter intimidation, and allegations of electoral malpractice between the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Both constituencies, seen as prestige battles, witnessed heavy police presence and preventive measures that failed to curb escalating tensions.
In Pulivendula, police placed YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and TDP MLC Bhoomireddy Ramagopal Reddy under house arrest early Monday to prevent potential unrest.
Avinash Reddy was taken into custody and briefly moved to Yerraguntla police station amid protests from supporters before returning to his Pulivendula office under tight security.
DSP Murali Naik threatened to shoot YSRCP workers for resisting police orders during the ZPTC by-election campaign.
Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen ordered YSRCP workers to vacate the office, citing security concerns, which sparked confrontations.
YSRCP alleges TDP intimidation, large scale poll malpractices
Avinash Reddy, staging a dharna at Yerraguntla’s four roads circle, demanded the election’s cancellation and a re-poll under central forces, alleging TDP-orchestrated rigging with police complicity. He accused TDP MLAs Chaitanya Reddy, BJP MLA Adinarayana Reddy, and B.Tech Ravi of bringing outsiders from Jammalamadugu to cast bogus votes, presenting video evidence of fake voting at Nallapureddypalli. Labeling the election “the worst in independent India,” Reddy criticized DIG Praveen and SP Ashok Kumar for allegedly aiding the TDP.
Incidents of booth capturing and voter suppression were reported across villages like Kanampalli, where a voter was seen pleading with police to vote, and Dugganagaripalle and Erripalle, where TDP activists allegedly blocked women voters.
YSRCP agents claimed they were denied entry to polling stations. In R. Thummalapalle, YSRCP candidate T. Hemant Reddy alleged that 150 TDP workers threatened voters and dined at the local Secretariat, with police ignoring complaints. In Nallagundavaripalle, relocated polling booths reportedly disenfranchised voters. Reddy claimed TDP workers snatched voter slips and voted in 15 polling stations, with YSRCP agents forcibly removed in Achhuvelli and Erripalli.
The Election Commission faced criticism for ignoring YSRCP’s complaints, prompting the party to plan legal action. In Vontimitta, Tuesday’s by-election saw similar chaos at polling stations in Kotha Madhavaram, Chinnakottapalli, Pennarerooru, and others. YSRCP leaders alleged that Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy oversaw attacks on their agents.
In Chinnakottapalli, TDP activists reportedly assaulted a YSRCP agent and expelled others, enabling rigging. Similar incidents occurred in Gandlapalli and Mantapampalli, the home village of TDP candidate Muddu Krishna Reddy, where YSRCP activists allegedly retaliated. At Vontimitta’s ZP High School, YSRCP president P Ravindranath Reddy disrupted polling, prompting police intervention. Near Kodandarama Swamy temple, TDP workers were accused of dragging YSRCP agents out.
Ravindranath Reddy and former Deputy CM SB Amzath Basha protested, accusing Minister Reddy of orchestrating chaos and demanding his removal. Police detained them and several workers, shifting them to Ontimitta station. Rajampet MLA Akepati Amarnath Reddy condemned the polls as unprecedented, alleging TDP intimidation with police support and demanding a re-poll. Reddy denied the claims, asserting peaceful polls and accusing YSRCP of attacking TDP agents out of fear of defeat. DIG Praveen defended police actions, stating Avinash’s custody was procedural and that evidence of non-local voting would be investigated.