Police block YSRCP leader Mekapati near Atmakur counting centre

Nellore: Police personnel stopped former MLA and YSRCP Atmakur constituency incharge Mekapati Vikram Reddy from proceeding toward the local body election counting center in Atmakur on Saturday, where vote counting for ZPTC and MPTC elections was underway.

Police officers parked a service vehicle across the road to block Vikram Reddy’s car, informing him that he was not allowed to enter the counting center premises.

The former MLA strongly questioned the police officers on duty, demanding a formal explanation for denying him movement toward the venue.

Vikram Reddy clarified to security officials that he intended to move only up to the 100-meter perimeter prescribed under Election Commission guidelines and had no intention of interfering with official police duties. Despite his explanation, security forces refused to let his vehicle proceed further.

Interacting with media representatives at the spot, Vikram Reddy expressed deep anguish over the police action, terming the restrictions highly undemocratic and unprecedented.

He questioned why opposition leaders were being systematically barred from observing counting operations involving candidates fielded by their own party.

The YSRCP leader alleged that similar arbitrary restrictions were enforced against opposition functionaries on polling day, which he claimed allowed the ruling party to indulge in electoral irregularities.

He asserted that denying opposition leaders basic rights during vote counting casts serious doubts on the transparency of the electoral process and undermines democratic norms across the constituency.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M Srinivasa Rao

M Srinivasa Rao[email protected]

M Srinivasa Rao is Staff Reporter for SPSR Nellore District for The Hans India. A seasoned journalist with over 32 years of experience in both English and Telugu journalism. Throughout his career, he has worked with leading Telugu dailies, including Udayam, Andhra Jyothi, and Andhra Prabha, as well as prominent English newspapers such as The Indian Express. He began his journalistic career with Udayam in Tirupati, Chittoor district, where he worked from 1990 to 1992. He then served with Andhra Jyothi and Andhra Prabha in SPSR Nellore district from 1992 to 2006. From 2007 to 2016, he worked as a Staff Reporter for The Indian Express in SPSR Nellore district. Between 2016 and 2019, he was associated with The Hans India in YSR Kadapa district. Over the course of his three-decade-long career, Srinivasa Rao has extensively covered a wide range of beats, with particular expertise in social, economic, crime, and political affairs. He is passionate about reporting on current issues that have a significant impact on society and public life. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) degree from Sri Venkateswara University in 1985.

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