Pulivendula, the home constituency of YSRCP president and former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, became the flashpoint of Sunday's polling in 92 urban local bodies. Officials did not let Jagan into the Returning Officer's office, so he sat outside. Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy joined him.
Jagan's allegations and demands
- YSRCP agents were allowed in only 10 of the municipality's 80 booths. In the other 70, people linked to the TDP kept them out and tore up their authorisation papers.
- Outsiders were brought in, and police backed them.
- He wants polling cancelled and re-held in all 80 booths, CCTV and polling records preserved, and statements taken from agents and presiding officers. Copies went to the State Election Commissioner, the Collector and the SP.
- YSRCP says an SEC report shows 681 votes in the 'Others' category out of 54,532 polled in Pulivendula, though the roll lists only 14 voters in that category.
The TDP's counter-charge
TDP MLC Varla Ramaiah said Jagan planned the polling-day violence. He claimed YSRCP brought outsiders overnight by car and tractor to cast fake votes, police stopped them, and YSRCP cadres then set fire to their own vehicles. ETV Bharat reported that unidentified people burned 3 cars, 10 bikes and a tractor at an orchard in Ulimella. No response from the SEC or police to either side's claims was available.
The News Minute reported that India Today and NTV journalists were attacked in Pulivendula and their cameras damaged. Who attacked them has not been established.
Turnout
Statewide turnout was 22.08% at 11 AM, with Rayadurg highest at 38.79%, Guntakal lowest at 13.95% and Pulivendula at 34% (The Hans India). TV9 Telugu and Eenadu reported 48.03% by 3 PM. Re-polling, where ordered, is on November 2; counting is on November 3.
