AP:NDA Alliance vows to respect SEC decisions, accuses YSRCP of trying to obstruct local body polls
Amaravati, Oct 22 (TNT) : The ruling NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday said it would respect the decisions of the State Election Commission (SEC) and ensure that local body elections were conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
In a joint statement, Chief Minister and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party Chief Pawan Kalyan and BJP Andhra Pradesh president PVN Madhav alleged that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was attempting to obstruct local body elections through legal challenges and other means.
The alliance leaders said the TDP, Jana Sena Party and BJP had contested the 2024 elections with a promise to rebuild Andhra Pradesh and had since focused on welfare, development and good governance.
They stressed that timely local body elections were essential for strengthening grassroots democracy and securing funds from the 16th Finance Commission and the Central Government.
Alleging that YSRCP had approached courts 59 times in an attempt to stall the election process, the leaders claimed that the party had resorted to violence, attacked police personnel and damaged roads in some places to disrupt the polls.
Recalling the conduct of local body elections during the previous YSRCP government, they alleged that opposition candidates had faced intimidation and were prevented from filing nominations in several places.
They also referred to a communication by the then State Election Commissioner to the Centre regarding alleged irregularities and forced unanimous elections.
The NDA leaders reiterated their commitment to constitutional procedures and democratic principles, stating that they would extend full cooperation to the SEC to ensure that voters could elect their representatives without fear or interference.
They said the alliance’s objective was to complete the elections within the prescribed timeframe and ensure that the benefits of development reached every household.
TNT KM
