Tirupati: Political leaders demand to start of process afresh

Tirupati: CPM leaders warned that they will retaliate if the ruling YSRCP leaders do not stop violent acts. Speaking to media here on Monday, CPM district secretary A Pullaiah and party senior leader and CITU district general secretary K Murali condemned the violent tactics and unlawful means resorted by ruling party leaders to ensure their candidates win unopposed in the local body elections.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had directed his party MLAs and ministers to refrain from fielding their family members in the elections. But the MLAs of Chandragiri and Tirupati encouraged their sons to contest in the polls while Deputy Chief Minister Narayana Swamy's wife also filed nomination,'' the CPM leader pointed out.

Demanding enquiry on all the violent incidents reported during the filing of nominations for local bodies' elections in Tirupati city, Chandragiri, Srikalahasti and Punganur constituencies, the CPM leaders sought stern action on the concerned officials who failed to stop YSRCP activists.

Murali alleged that election officials and police acted like puppets in the hands of YSRCP leaders suppressing democracy.

In a separate media conference, Jana Sena Party state leader P Hariprasad alleged that in Renigunta, police detained party candidates and threatened to book false cases if they contest the election.

Meanwhile, at the round table conference organised by district CPI, the leaders of political parties demanded the cancellation of the local body elections and to initiate a fresh process in view of large scale violence. CPI state secretariat member P Haranadha Reddy said fearing setback due to public discontentment, the ruling party resorted to violent tactics to win the elections. Former MLA and TDP leader M Suguna and leaders of Congress, BSP, and RPI also spoke.