The war of words over Andhra Pradesh's local body polls has sharpened. CM N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters in Amaravati that YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has a "hit and run" attitude and that his mindset is a danger to the state.
What Naidu said
- If local polls are not held, the state could lose 16th Finance Commission funds. He said 59 petitions were filed to stop the elections.
- People will not accept rowdyism or crime, and his government puts law and order first.
- He blamed YSRCP leaders for incidents in Rayachoti, Darsi, Pulivendula, Punganur and other places, and said people must know the facts.
What Jagan says
At a press meet in Tadepalli on Friday, Jagan said YSRCP candidates still face obstruction in the urban local body polls and that the party will return to the Supreme Court with fresh evidence. He said the party can contest only 14 of 32 wards in Rajampet and 13 of 66 wards in Kadapa. He alleged attacks on ZPTC and MPTC candidates in Gorantla, Dharmavaram, Punganur and elsewhere.
Jagan said the party has given its evidence to the Governor, the State Election Commission and the Supreme Court. The TDP says the YSRCP is misrepresenting the Supreme Court's order, and the government says the opposition also caused the clashes. Nominations in Kadapa, Tirupati, Rajampet and Mydukur were open until 3 PM on Saturday.
