THE nomination process for the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh has been marred by violence, intimidation and obstruction by supporters of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) - led coalition. The CPI(M) has accused the ruling party of preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations, snatching and tearing up their papers and attacking candidates and party leaders. It has also criticised the police and the State Election Commission for failing to ensure free and fair elections.
Nominations for municipalities were held from October 16 to 18, and those for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) constituencies from October 21 to 23. Incidents were reported from several districts, including Markapuram, Palnadu, Kurnool, Kadapa, Chittoor and Tirupati.
Intervention of the Supreme Court
The opposition Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) approached the Supreme Court over the violence and the obstructions. The court directed the State Election Commission to examine the complaints and decide whether to extend the time. On October 22 the Commission reopened nominations for 48 hours, on October 23 and 24, in wards of four urban local bodies: the Kadapa and Tirupati corporations and the Rajampet and Mydukur municipalities. The final list of candidates was published on October 25.
Polling in all 100 urban local bodies is now fixed for November 1 and counting for November 3. The CPI(M) says that apart from the new dates little has changed, and that violence has gone on as before.
Candidates Attacked, Papers Destroyed
In Pamuru in the Markapuram region, CPI(M) candidate Sayyad Sharmila was prevented from filing her nomination. Her papers were snatched and torn up, and she lodged a complaint. The DSP stepped in and escorted her to the Returning Officer’s office, but while she waited in the queue, TDP supporters attacked her again and tore up the documents. She could not file her nomination despite police protection.
In Krosur, CPI(M) candidate Anjaneyulu Naik was attacked and suffered a fractured forearm. In Badvel, candidate Mokshamma’s papers were snatched and torn up, and similar incidents were reported in Krosuru and Kosigi.
CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh State Secretary V Srinivasa Rao visited CPI(M) Palnadu District Secretariat member S Anjaneyulu Naik who was assaulted during the filing of nominations for the MPTC elections.
In Komarolu, CPI(M) Markapuram District Committee member Avulaiah was attacked by a group near the MPDO office while helping party candidates. He suffered a serious head injury and lost consciousness, and party activists took him to the Giddalur Government Hospital. The party alleged that the attack took place in the presence of police personnel, who did not intervene promptly.
In M Bandapalli village of Chittoor district, CPI(M) candidate M Kantham was assaulted and her papers destroyed. In Obulavaripalle mandal of Tirupati district, candidate Nagipogu Penchalaiah faced repeated attacks and had his papers torn up even when a police constable accompanied him to file a fresh nomination.
In Palnadu district, CPI(M) candidates Ganji Mala Ravi Babu, Pendyala Uma Maheswara Rao, Guntupalli Balakrishna and Eeuru Kumari were attacked while trying to file ZPTC nominations at the Narasaraopeta RDO office. Rao and Balakrishna suffered injuries. The candidates finally filed their nominations with police help.
In Nakirikallu, TDP leader Baji Chowdary snatched and tore up the nomination papers of 18 candidates inside the Returning Officer’s office and took the officer’s mobile phone. The incident raised concerns about interference in the election process and the safety of nomination documents.
In Kurnool district, CPI(M) candidate Madhusudhan, party leader Shiva and other workers were attacked at the Zilla Parishad office while seeking the no-dues certificates required for nomination. In Kadapa district, CPI(M) candidate Gandi Sunil Kumar was prevented from reaching the nomination centre at Brahmamgari Matham by barricades and obstruction. After a protest and the intervention of district officials, he was allowed to file.
In Visakhapatnam, allegations were made that a YSRCP candidate in the 14th ward was pressed into withdrawing his nomination through coercion and financial inducements.
CPI(M) Demands Arrest of Accused
CPI(M) State Secretary V Srinivasa Rao strongly condemned the attacks and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible. He accused the ruling party of resorting to violence out of fear of defeat and the police of failing to protect opposition candidates.
The party also stated that Returning Officers in parts of Palnadu district refused to accept nominations from CPI(M) candidates while accepting those of the ruling party. It demanded action against officials accused of discrimination and against police personnel accused of assaulting party members. It also sought action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those accused of caste-based abuse and attacks on party leaders and candidates.
In Kanigiri, the party claimed that ruling party leaders were trying to secure unopposed wins by obstructing opposition candidates during scrutiny. Rao demanded that valid nominations be accepted and warned that without impartial scrutiny and adequate security, the election would lack credibility.
Left Parties Condemn Violence
At a press meet on October 23, the Left parties strongly condemned the violence. Srinivasa Rao said that violence had erupted even at the nomination stage in more than 13 districts. The government, he said, had failed miserably in maintaining law and order, and the ruling TDP alliance parties were squarely responsible.
Their sole aim, he alleged, was to prevent candidates from filing nominations. Candidates were intercepted outside the nomination centres, and those who got inside were attacked, their papers torn up, and in some cases assaulted with weapons, all to create the false impression that the ruling parties had won the seats unopposed.
Fairness of Election under Question
The CPI(M) held the ruling party, the state government and the State Election Commission responsible for ensuring a peaceful and impartial process. It demanded impartial investigations, action against those responsible for the violence, and accountability for election officials and police personnel who failed to protect candidates.
The incidents raise serious questions about whether opposition candidates can freely exercise their democratic right to contest local body elections. The State Election Commission and the state government must ensure that valid nominations are accepted, that candidates receive adequate protection, and that the process is free of intimidation. The ruling TDP alliance parties must stop the violence and intimidation at once, and the public demand is that the government ensure peaceful elections.
