Opposition party reports attacks, torn nomination papers and arrests across 10 locations; alleges police inaction and intimidation by ruling TDP-led coalition
VIJAYAWADA, October 21, 2026 — The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has alleged widespread violence and intimidation against its candidates during nominations for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) across Andhra Pradesh, reporting attacks on party leaders, the destruction of nomination papers and the detention of senior functionaries.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the opposition party accused cadres of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its coalition partners of obstructing candidates from filing their nominations in several districts. It also accused the police of failing to prevent the violence and, in some instances, restricting opposition leaders from assisting candidates.
The allegations concern incidents reported in 10 locations across the state, including Chittoor, Tirupati, Palnadu, Kakinada, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts. The claims could not be independently verified on the basis of the statement.
One of the reported incidents involved former Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister K. Narayana Swamy, whom the YSRCP said was attacked by TDP cadres near the Zilla Parishad chairman’s office in Chittoor. Swamy had arrived to facilitate the filing of a ZPTC nomination from Penumuru, according to the party.
In Chandragiri, in Tirupati district, the YSRCP said former MPTC member Madan Reddy and party supporters Ramu and Lokesh sustained serious head injuries in an attack and were taken to a government hospital. The party alleged that the incident took place in the presence of Pulivarthi Vineel, the son of TDP legislator Pulivarthi Nani. It further accused Vineel of bringing outsiders from neighbouring Tamil Nadu to foment violence. These allegations were not independently verified.
The party also reported that a two-wheeler belonging to a YSRCP supporter was damaged and set ablaze near the mandal parishad development office in Srikalahasti, while candidates attempting to file nominations were threatened.
In Railway Koduru, YSRCP alleged that Jana Sena leaders and local MLA Arava Sridhar, accompanied by hundreds of supporters, obstructed its candidates at the mandal office. Party leaders, including former legislator Koramutla Srinivasulu, State Executive Council member Ramireddy Dhwaja Reddy and senior functionary Thota Siva Sai, confronted the police and demanded that candidates be allowed to submit their nomination papers. Police also issued a notice to Dhwaja Reddy during the process, the party said.
Arrests, Alleged Threats and Torn Nomination Papers
In Palnadu district, the YSRCP said former MLA Brahmanaidu was placed under house arrest in Narasaraopet, preventing him from assisting candidates. Brahmanaidu also accused Circle Inspector Prabhakar of threatening to demolish candidates’ houses with earthmoving machinery if they refused to withdraw their nominations.
In neighbouring Piduguralla, police arrested YSRCP State Executive Council member and Macherla constituency observer Kommineni Venkateswarlu when he arrived to support candidates filing MPTC nominations, according to the party. He was taken to a police station, the statement said.
The party alleged that its candidates were attacked at the mandal office in Macherla and that their nomination papers were forcibly snatched, preventing them from completing the filing process.
In Thondangi mandal, in Kakinada district, coalition leaders allegedly obstructed YSRCP candidates from submitting their nominations. Former minister Dadisetti Raja arrived with party workers to support them, but tensions escalated into pushing and jostling while, according to the YSRCP, police remained passive.
The party also reported that TDP leaders prevented women candidates from filing nominations in Punganur Rural Mandal in Annamayya district.
In Penukonda, in Sri Sathya Sai district, TDP leaders allegedly snatched and tore the nomination papers of a YSRCP MPTC candidate from Kurubavandlapalli. Former minister Ushashri Charan staged a protest and demanded immediate action against those responsible, the party said.
The incidents, as described by the opposition party, raise questions about candidates’ ability to participate freely in the local electoral process. The YSRCP called for immediate protection for its candidates, action against those responsible for the alleged attacks and an end to what it described as police interference in the nomination process.
Kashmir Newsline is in possession of a series of videos shared by YSRCP showing party activists and office-bearers with bloodstained clothes and visible injuries apparently sustained in the violence.
