Police arrested leaders of Left parties and mass organisations in Vijayawada on October 10 to stop the “Chalo Lok Bhavan” protest march called by the Left parties to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Left leaders condemned the arrests and said the police had suppressed a peaceful protest meant to protect democratic rights and to question alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

During the police action, SFI state vice-president B Ravi was injured and two student leaders fell ill. They were admitted to the New Government Hospital in Vijayawada, Three other student activists, East Godavari SFI president Jyothi, West Godavari SFI leader Vamsi and Eluru district activist Madhav, who suffered a chest injury in a scuffle are under treatment.

CPI(M) state secretary V Srinivasa Rao was arrested on his way to the protest. Police also arrested CPI(M) Tadepalli mandal secretary M Ravi at Gundimeda village and the party’s Capital division secretary at Errabalem in Mangalagiri Rural, citing the lack of permission for the programme.

Around 300 Left activists and Congress leaders were reportedly detained at police stations including in Ibrahimpatnam, Bhavanipuram, Kothapeta, Two-Town and Singinagar.

Preventive Detentions and Surveillance

Police under the guise of preventive measures, detained CPI(M) and mass organisation leaders across NTR district. In Vijayawada they arrested KVPS leader Kranthi and SFI state secretary Prasanna Kumar. KVPS district secretary Jonnakota Naveen was taken into custody and moved to a police station.

CPI(M) leader Ch Baburao said on social media that the police had begun preventive detentions of party leaders. Large numbers of police were stationed outside the CPI state office in Governorpet and around the CPI(M) State office to stop leaders and activists from joining the programme. CPI(M) members burnt the effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar against the disenfranchisement of 13 crore voters across India.

Several leaders said they had received calls from the police asking where they were and warning them not to leave their homes. CPI(M) leader Srinivas of Shantinagar in Payakapuram said police came to his house at 2 am and kept it under watch. Another leader, Boya Sachibabu, alleged that police visited his home and intimidated the women present. The Left parties said police detained activists, put several leaders under house arrest from midnight and posted personnel around party offices.

Criticism of State Government

CPI(M) leaders criticised the TDP-led state government. They accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan of continuing with their TDP and Jana Sena tours instead of questioning the Election Commission over alleged electoral irregularities. They condemned the restrictions on parties and mass organisations that seek to defend democratic rights and demanded that peaceful protests be allowed.

The Left parties demanded the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that actions taken under his leadership had deprived 13 crore voters of their right to vote. The protest was organised by an alliance of political parties, civil society groups and people’s organisations.

Retired IPS officer A P Venkateswara Rao, former ministers Vadde Sobhanadhiswara Rao and Y Venkateswara Rao, Liberation leader Harinath, MLA Kishore Babu and Congress leaders J D Seelam and Shivaji were among those who took part in the programme. On Friday, October 9, effigies of Gyanesh Kumar were burnt in all district centres across Andhra Pradesh.

Crackdown in Delhi Condemned

The Left parties also condemned the Delhi Police for restricting the CPI(M) and other Left organisations from staging a protest at Jantar Mantar. According to party leaders, the police imposed wide restrictions across the city, suspended internet services and halted metro rail operations, which caused hardship to the public.

Police surrounded the CPI(M) headquarters at AKG Bhavan and arrested leaders and mass organisation activists. Those reportedly detained include former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, senior Left leader Manik Sarkar, Politburo member Brinda Karat, and Central Committee members B V Raghavulu, D Ramadevi and K Lokanadham from Andhra Pradesh.

Statewide Protests

Condemning the police action in Delhi and the restrictions in Andhra Pradesh, Left parties and student organisations staged protests and rallies across the state on October 11. They demanded an end to what they called the repression of democratic protests.

Addressing a meeting organised by Left parties at Lenin Centre in Vijayawada, CPI(M) state secretary V Srinivasa Rao declared that the struggle, in solidarity with the country’s youth, would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned or the Modi government was removed from power.

Speakers alleged that police in Delhi and other states had intensified their crackdown on opposition parties and students at the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They condemned an incident in which police allegedly entered Phule-Ambedkar Bhavan, forcibly removed students from their rooms and arrested them. They expressed concern over the growing establishment of a "police state."

CPI city president Koteswara Rao criticised the police for resorting to lathi-charges against peaceful protesters. New Democracy leader Ramakrishna said the government is facing strong resistance in Delhi despite deploying an additional 35,000 security personnel and suspending internet services and metro operations.

Addressing a meeting in Kurnool, CPI(M) State Secretariat member K Prabhakar Reddy said the BJP-led government at the Centre and CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had no moral authority to continue in office.

In Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, Left parties and people's organisations jointly organised a protest rally. Similar demonstrations were held across the state.

In Anakapalli, the protest was held at Ambedkar statue at Nehru Chowk. The protesters condemned the BJP’s authoritarian rule and its suppression of democratic rights. CPI(M) district secretary Koteswara Rao criticised the government for cracking down on those fighting to protect the right to vote, instead of safeguarding that fundamental democratic right. He demanded the immediate removal of officials whom he accused of acting in the BJP’s political interests, stating that such action was necessary to restore public confidence in the electoral system.

He appealed to people to support the struggle being waged by Left parties and student and youth organisations to protect voting rights, ensure that no eligible vote was deleted, and safeguard the independence of constitutional institutions and democratic rights.

In Visakhapatnam, a protest demonstration was organised at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office. Protesters displayed models resembling prison cells to symbolise the alleged repressive measures of the Union government and held placards declaring that democracy was being murdered.