TDP condemns attack on party leaders during filing of nomination

Tirupati: Telugu Desam Party leaders condemned an alleged attack by YSR Congress Party leaders on TDP leaders, who went to file nominations for the upcoming local body elections.

Speaking to the media in Tirupati on Friday, TDP Tirupati Parliamentary constituency president and former Minister Dr Panabaka Lakshmi, along with party district observer Nukasani Balaji, said filing nominations was a democratic right of every candidate. They said attacks on leaders exercising this right were against democratic values.

They alleged that attempts to intimidate political opponents instead of respecting the people’s verdict would harm the democratic process. They said elections should be conducted freely, fairly and peacefully, and that violence and threats during the nomination process could not be justified.

The TDP leaders urged election officials and the police to respond immediately, identify those responsible for the incident and take legal action. They said the authorities had a responsibility to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates and prevent such incidents from recurring.

They also said the party would not tolerate attempts to deny democratic rights and called on officials to ensure a transparent and impartial election process.

In a separate press meet, TDP state vice president G Narasimha Yadav alleged that the YSRCP was trying to disrupt local body elections through violence. He cited incidents reported in Punganur, Rayachoti and Tirupati on Friday as examples of what he described as the party’s violent approach.

Yadav alleged that the YSRCP was resorting to attacks and intimidation out of fear of defeat. He also claimed that groups of troublemakers were being brought from neighbouring areas and states to target political opponents.

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The Hans India