Chandrababu mocking democracy, says Jagan

Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy lambasted the coalition for its unfair conduct of elections in unlevel playfield as affirmed that the government is resorting to such undemocratic tactics as it has failed to fulfill poll promises and is scared of polls.

Addressing the Party cadre here on Tuesday, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said elections should be held in a level play field where all players should be given equal opportunity unlike the ongoing local body elections which are rigged by misusing official machinery and preventing the Opposition from filing nomination papers.

Likening Chandrababu to Sakuni character in Mahabaratha who deceives opponents by rolling the magical dice to eke out fake victory, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said, when the nomination process itself is held under unfair practices where the sanctity of results and democratic principles rests.

YS Jagan said the State had earlier heard of booth rigging, but Chandrababu had now taken it to “nomination rigging” by occupying nomination centres and preventing candidates from filing papers. “You contest, I contest, and whoever receives the people’s vote should win. That is Democracy. Preventing opponents from contesting and then claiming victory is shameful.”

The coalition is celebrating 17 Urban Local Bodies going into its account, with 15 Chairperson posts for TDP, one for Jana Sena and one for BJP, and boasting that 21 percent of the 2,108 wards were unanimous. Victories secured by denying opponents the opportunity to contest cannot be called genuine. There is nothing to celebrate in claims that six municipalities, including those in YSR district, have gone to the coalition.

YS Jagan challenged Chandrababu to face a genuine contest. What happened to the Super Six and Super Seven promises? Even after three years, 143 promises remain unfulfilled, while people are confronting the government with the bonds distributed before the elections. Unable to face them, Chandrababu is using power to manipulate elections, while sections of the media are supporting the ruling party. Women are suffering the most despite 50 percent reservation. Women candidates are being stopped at check-posts and on roads, attacked by TDP goons, subjected to saree-pulling and deprived of their nomination papers. “Chandrababu, you are destroying the dignity of my sisters. Do you have any shame?”

YS Jagan said the YSRCP government supported women through Asara, Cheyutha, EBC Nestham, Kapu Nestham and zero-interest loans. Amma Vodi, Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena supported their children’s education. His government distributed 31 lakh house-site pattas, launched construction of 21 lakh houses and provided 50 percent reservation for women in nominated posts and contracts.

In Pulivendula, nominations could be filed in only 20 of 40 wards. Of seven ZPTC seats, contests were allowed in only four. Nomination papers were snatched and torn, while others were rejected during scrutiny. On October 17, candidates were stopped in the morning and again in the afternoon. YSRCP asked police to transport the candidates and facilitate nominations, but police refused.

Candidates seeking permission to file nominations were lathi-charged. Police fired 37 rounds, injuring two persons in the legs. Twenty stun shells, 40 smoke shells and seven hand grenades were used. “Was filing a nomination their only crime?” Attempt-to-murder cases were registered against 924 people in Pulivendula after police fired on YSRCP workers.

Even after Supreme Court directions, there has been no change in Chandrababu, the SEC, Collectors or SPs. In Kadapa district, contests were prevented in 17 of 39 ZPTC seats. Candidates were not allowed to file nominations in six places, while nominations in another 11 places were rejected after midnight in the name of scrutiny.

“Our nomination papers were torn in the presence of police and officials. Our rights were snatched away. If tomorrow the same happens to our property documents, what will be the situation?” People must protect their rights and Democracy themselves.

YS Jagan called upon party workers to rise against the injustice and said the movement to protect Democracy should begin in Pulivendula and spread across the State. Though YSRCP was restricted to contests in only 20 wards and four ZPTC seats, the fight would continue.

An attack on any YSRCP worker in Pulivendula would be treated as an attack on YS Jagan himself. Officials responsible for injustice would be held accountable even after retirement. Police are not working for Chandrababu but under the Constitution. They must remember the three lions on their caps and their constitutional oath.

YS Jagan said arrests, cases and harassment were nothing new to YSRCP. The party was born in Opposition and overcame every difficulty with public support. Every household was discussing the difference between YS Jagan’s governance and Chandrababu’s rule, and people would give their verdict in the coming elections.

“Three years have passed. Only two years remain. After that comes YS Jagan 2.0. If YS Jagan is one, the party worker is two.” The welfare and problems of party workers were his own. Pulivendula had stood by him like family after his father’s death and its support had taken him to the office of Chief Minister.

Pulivendula would become the starting point of a statewide movement to protect Democracy. YS Jagan announced that he would return a day before polling and personally cast his vote on polling day. He called on people to stand courageously and ensure voters were free to express their verdict. “People will stand with those who have done good for them.”