YSRCP chief regrets backing Election Commissioner appointment law, seeks reforms
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YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday called for an independent process to appoint Election Commissioners, expressing regret over his party’s support for the 2023 law governing their selection.
“Approving that, I am regretting it now,” Jagan said, referring to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
Drawing a comparison between elections and examinations, he said, “An examiner cannot be appointed by the student.” He argued that the appointment process should be neutral and called for similar reforms in the selection of State Election Commissioners.
Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Jagan accused the ruling TDP-led NDA coalition of preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations for local body elections through intimidation and misuse of the police machinery.
“The TDP-led NDA coalition is preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations for local body elections through attacks, intimidation and misuse of the police machinery,” he alleged.
Jagan claimed that YSRCP candidates had their nomination papers seized or rejected and that party workers were attacked, kidnapped and intimidated. He accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of using government officials, police personnel and TDP supporters to influence the election process.
He also alleged that candidates faced obstruction in Kadapa, Punganur and Tirupati. In Pulivendula, he accused police personnel of pelting stones and firing in the air to intimidate candidates.
Questioning the election schedule, Jagan claimed opposition parties had little time to prepare after reservation details were released. He further alleged that the government was proceeding with elections using unrevised electoral rolls despite the Special Intensive Revision identifying 46 lakh fake voters. He also accused the ruling coalition of manipulating ward delimitation to its advantage.
There was no immediate reaction from the TDP.
Elections to 100 urban local bodies are scheduled for October 28, with results on October 30. MPTC and ZPTC elections will be held on November 3, with counting on November 5. Gram panchayat elections are scheduled in three phases on November 26, 29, and December 2.