Vundavalli Sridevi criticises Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy over alleged political violence, local election disputes and BC representation in Andhra Pradesh.
Madiga Corporation Chairperson Vundavalli Sridevi on Thursday accused the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of resorting to violence and intimidation, alleging that its political approach was at odds with Andhra Pradesh’s development priorities under the NDA coalition government.
Addressing the media at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) central office at NTR Bhavan in Mangalagiri, Sridevi criticised former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy over what she described as the party’s factional politics. She said the State should focus on industrial development, employment generation and technological advancement rather than political confrontation.
Contrasting the coalition government's development agenda with the opposition's approach, she cited initiatives aimed at attracting industries, improving internet connectivity and organising job fairs for young people. She also referred to the 2024 Assembly election results, in which the YSRCP won 11 of the 175 seats, arguing that the verdict reflected public dissatisfaction with its previous tenure.
Referring to recent political tensions surrounding local body elections, Sridevi questioned the conduct of YSRCP MP P.V. Mithun Reddy and alleged that a convoy of 15 to 20 vehicles arrived before the nomination process began.
She claimed that YSRCP supporters attacked 17 TDP workers, naming Manjunath, Mohan Reddy and Sohail Basha among those allegedly affected. She accused opposition leaders of attempting to intimidate political rivals and disrupt the electoral process.
The allegations were made by Sridevi during her media briefing. The circumstances of the reported incidents, including the number of people injured and the sequence of events, would need to be established through independent accounts and official records.
Sridevi accused the previous YSRCP government of weakening the political representation of Backward Classes (BCs) by reducing the number of local body positions available to them. She cited a figure of 16,800 posts and argued that the move had adversely affected the participation of marginalised communities in local governance.
In contrast, she said the TDP had consistently supported political representation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), BCs and minority communities. She referred to the party's historical position on reservations, citing measures associated with former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao and current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Sridevi said social justice and representation in elected bodies should remain central to the State's political agenda. The figures and claims regarding reservation levels and the number of affected posts would require verification against official government records.
The TDP leader also criticised the YSRCP government's handling of earlier local body elections. She referred to the dispute involving then State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, whose tenure became the subject of a confrontation with the government after local elections were postponed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sridevi alleged that violence and electoral irregularities had occurred in several places during the previous government's tenure. She cited incidents in Macherla, Karampudi and Sattenapalli, as well as an alleged case of torture involving the husband of a sarpanch candidate in Anantapur district.
She also raised the unresolved murder case of former minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy and demanded accountability. The allegations and references to individual incidents require assessment against police records, court proceedings and other independently verifiable evidence.
Concluding her address, Sridevi urged Jagan Mohan Reddy to cooperate with the State government's development initiatives rather than engage in confrontational politics. She warned that attempts to create political tension would face opposition from the electorate.
She said Andhra Pradesh should prioritise investment, employment, technological development and the political participation of disadvantaged communities.
The TDP leader's remarks come amid continuing political exchanges between the ruling coalition and the YSRCP over allegations of violence, electoral conduct and governance in Andhra Pradesh.
