YS Jagan warns officials of post-retirement action

Pulivendula(YSR Kadapa): YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday declared that an attack on any party worker would be treated as an attack on him, and warned that officials responsible for injustice would be held accountable even after retirement.

Addressing party cadres in his home constituency of Pulivendula ahead of local body elections, he reminded police officials that they serve under the Constitution, not any political leader, and urged them to uphold their constitutional oath.

Alleging that the ruling coalition was conducting elections on an uneven playing field, Jagan accused the government of misusing official machinery, preventing Opposition candidates from filing nominations and undermining democratic norms. He claimed the coalition was resorting to such tactics because it had failed to fulfil its election promises and feared facing the people.

The former chief minister said YSRCP was no stranger to arrests, cases and political pressure, recalling that the party was born in Opposition and had overcome challenges through public support. He expressed confidence that voters were comparing his government’s performance with that of the current administration and would deliver their verdict in future elections. Jagan described local body polls as being marred by “nomination rigging,” alleging that candidates were blocked from filing papers, nominations were rejected unfairly and party workers faced harassment. He claimed that in Pulivendula, nominations could be filed in only 20 of 40 wards, while contests were permitted in just four of seven ZPTC seats.

Referring to police action during nomination-related protests, he alleged that firing, lathi charges and criminal cases had been used against YSRCP workers. He also accused authorities of preventing contests in several ZPTC constituencies across Kadapa district. Calling Pulivendula the starting point of a statewide movement to protect democracy, Jagan urged party workers and voters to stand firm against injustice. He said he would return before polling day to cast his vote and challenged the ruling alliance to face a fair electoral contest.

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