Naidu Slams Jagan as 'Habitual Offender' Over Election Delays
AP CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu slams YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for using litigations to stall elections and damaging the state's brand image.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has launched a fierce verbal assault on YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him to be a "habitual offender" who uses legal battles to stall democratic processes and tarnish the prestige of the state.
During a press conference in Mangalagiri, CM Naidu expressed deep concern over what he described as deliberate attempts to damage the brand image of Andhra Pradesh. He alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy operates more like a prolonged litigant than a politician, following a repetitive cycle of filing court petitions and lunch motions that are inevitably postponed, only to use these legal maneuvers to spread misinformation through extended press conferences.
The 'Law and Order' Debate
The Chief Minister claimed that Jagan's primary agenda is to create a narrative that law and order has collapsed in the state. According to Naidu, this is a calculated move designed to demand President’s Rule and extract political advantage from the current administration's struggles.
Naidu remarked that Jagan Mohan Reddy speaks an "incomprehensible language" and is consistently working to portray the state in a negative light to suit his political goals.
Denying Nomination Blockades
Addressing allegations that YSRCP candidates were prevented from filing nominations, CM Naidu firmly rejected the claims. He pointed out that the state police provided security and even transported candidates in official vehicles to ensure the nomination process was place. To bolster his argument, Naidu cited the statement of YSRCP’s own former Deputy Speaker from Bapatla, who had publicly confirmed that the nominations concluded without any hindrance.
Recalling the Pandemic Era
The Chief Minister did not hold back in his recalling the 2021 pandemic period under Jagan's leadership. He criticized the a bizarre situation where school teachers were reportedly forced into duty guarding liquor outlets to manage queues, while the state faced a grim reality.
Naidu also highlighted the 2021 elections, claiming that a massive number of uncontested victories—including 24 per cent of MPTCs statewide and significant sweeps in Kadapa—were achieved through "intimidation and brute force." He urged the public to recognize this pattern of falsehoods used to mislead the state.
Jagan's Counter-Attack: Allegations of Bias
On the other hand, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched his own blistering attack on the state’s electoral machinery and the ruling TDP. He accused the election authorities of systemic bias, forgery, and subverting thedemocracy. Jagan claimed that the current leadership has a documented history of partisanship favoring Chandrababu Naidu.
The SEC Controversy
Jagan Mohan Reddy traced his grievances back to the 2019 general elections, alleging that the current State Election Commissioner (SEC) acted with bias while serving as Chief Secretary. He claimed that in 2019, the SEC had defied the Chief Election Commissioner's directives to transfer certain officers, specifically reinstating the Intelligence DG, A. B. Venkateswara Rao, to help Naidu.
Jagan alleged that the SEC's partisan attitude led to the Chief Election Commissioner to remove him from the post of Chief Secretary at that time.
Legal Battles over ULB Elections
The YSRCP President further alleged that the administration is manipulating data and using bureaucratic hurdles to bypass Supreme Court directives. He claimed that during the ULB elections, YSRCP candidates were blocked from filing nominations in 19 locations. While the Supreme Court intervened, Jagan alleged that the Election Commission has only partially permitted filings in a few of those locations, claiming the process under the Naidu government has deteriorated significantly.