Tirupati MP lodges complaint with SEC over alleged intimidation of YSRCP candidates in Venkatagiri
Tirupati, Oct 22 (TNT) : Tirupati YSRCP Lok Sabha MP Dr. Maddila Gurumoorthy on Thursday strongly condemned alleged attempts to disrupt the local body poll process through threats and physical intimidation, terming such actions shameful and contrary to constitutional principles.
Asserting that contesting elections is a guaranteed constitutional right, Gurumoorthy stated that blocking candidates through coercion amounts to a direct assault on democratic values.
Gurumoorthy lodged a formal complaint with the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) over alleged incidents in Kaluvoya, located in the Venkatagiri Assembly segment, where YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) nominees were purportedly threatened and prevented from filing nominations.
According to a release from the MP’s office, Gurumoorthy submitted purported evidence related to an October 19 meeting of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) cadres in Kaluvoya.
In the meeting, local MLA Kurugondla Ramakrishna allegedly urged party workers to prevent YSRCP nominees from filing papers and purportedly advocated violence against them.
Terming the remarks grave, the parliamentarian urged the poll panel not to brook any attempts to engineer an atmosphere of fear.
“Electoral victories and defeats must be determined by the people’s verdict, not through threats, coercion, intimidation, or fear of physical attacks,” he said.
Gurumoorthy urged the election authorities to order a comprehensive inquiry, preserve CCTV and video footage as evidence, and initiate strict criminal action against those found responsible.
He also sought enhanced police deployment at nomination centres and in sensitive zones, alongside an immediate grievance-redressal mechanism for vulnerable candidates.
TNT LE
