Vijayawada, Nov 4 — The YSR Congress Party on Wednesday demanded mandatory CCTV surveillance, videography and webcasting at every polling station during the polling for MPTC and ZPTC elections scheduled for Thursday in Andhra Pradesh.
It warned the State Election Commission against allowing a repetition of the widespread irregularities witnessed in the municipal elections.
Polling for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) is scheduled across the state on Thursday.
A delegation led by YSRCP State General Secretary and MLC Lella Appireddy, accompanied by Legal Cell State President Manohar Reddy, Employees and Pensioners Wing State President Nalamaaru Chandrasekhar Reddy and Grievance Cell President Narayana Murthy, submitted a representation to the State Election Commissioner.
Speaking to the media, Appireddy said Chandrababu Naidu's coalition government had murdered democracy by misusing police and revenue officials from nominations and scrutiny to polling and counting. Candidates were prevented from filing nominations, eliminated during scrutiny, and subjected to intimidation and rigging. Where YSRCP candidates secured leads, counting was halted and results manipulated through recounting. He cited irregularities in Eluru, Dhone, Salur, Guntur, Ongole, Nuzvid and Palamaneru, along with discrepancies in polling percentages in Ongole and Visakhapatnam.
Appireddy demanded immediate preservation of CCTV footage and ballot papers from counting centres, announcing legal action against officials, police personnel and the Election Commission for electoral violations.
He declared that the coalition government's downfall had begun and warned officials to discharge their constitutional duties impartially. He also demanded an end to politically motivated bind-over proceedings, arrests and house arrests.
Nalamaaru Chandrasekhar Reddy said YSRCP had submitted nearly 15 complaints and representations, including video evidence on pen drives, without any meaningful action from the SEC.
He questioned recounting exercises despite substantial YSRCP leads in Nandikotkur, Ongole and other areas, stating that recounting cannot become a tool for manipulating results. He demanded adequate protection for opposition candidates, an end to police intimidation and strict safeguards to ensure free and fair MPTC and ZPTC elections.