TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP Leaders Lodge Complaint Against AP Govt with Election Commission
Leaders of the TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP alliance, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, Nadendla Manohar, Arun Singh, and GVL Narasimha Rao, met with the Election Commission of India today to file a complaint against the Andhra Pradesh government. They accused the state government of misusing administrative machinery and alleged that some officials are working in favor of the ruling YSRCP, thereby harassing opposition leaders. They requested the Commission to ensure that elections in the state are conducted in a free and fair atmosphere and suggested implementing video recording in problematic polling stations.
Post-meeting, BJP leader Arun Singh spoke to the media, highlighting that the AP DGP, CS, and Intelligence DGP are under pressure from the YSRCP, compromising their ability to function independently. He mentioned that Chandrababu Naidu had already filed multiple complaints regarding these issues. Singh emphasized the urgent need for the Election Commission to take action.
Nadendla Manohar, the Political Affairs Committee Chairman of Jana Sena, reported that the trio had presented several reports to the Election Commission today, outlining the deteriorated state of law and order in AP, to the extent that even the Chief Minister lacks security. He remarked that deliberate stone-pelting incidents targeting Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan have been orchestrated under the watch of the DGP, Intelligence DGP, and CS, necessitating intervention by the Election Commission.
Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar detailed their discussions with the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners, explaining how the AP CS, DGP, and Intelligence DGP are endorsing the state government's actions, which undermines democratic values. He criticized the post-election schedule manipulations by the CS, including favorable postings and reviews, which he claimed hinder the Election Commission's independence. He also accused the DGP of failing to provide adequate security even for events attended by the Prime Minister, demonstrating a negligent approach.
Lastly, Nadendla Manohar criticized the intimidation of lower-level officials in districts, driven by fear of losing power, and reiterated the necessity for the Election Commission to closely monitor voter list irregularities. He stated that maintaining a peaceful and democratic election environment is their core objective.