A fresh row is underway in Andhra Pradesh following the elections, with incumbent Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy attacking each other. On April 11, when Andhra Pradesh went to polls, TDP Sattenapalli candidate Kodela Sivaprasad Rao and his gunman were allegedly heckled by YSRCP cadres at the polling booth of Inumetla in the constituency. While he alleged that YSRCP men attacked him, the Opposition accused him of trying to capture the booth.
On Tuesday, after complaining to the Governor about the alleged misuse of state machinery by the TDP, Jagan said, “The Speaker went into a polling booth and locked himself up, creating a vicious atmosphere and provoking violence. The police did not file a case against him but registered cases against YSRCP workers in Guntur and other places (sic)”.
Responding to the allegations levelled by Jagan, Kodela Siva Prasada Rao said that the YSRCP is shedding crocodile tears after attacking him. Alleging that the attack on him was pre-planned, he said, “On the day of polling, by carrying out a pre-planned attack on me, they intimidated the officials and the people. It's atrocious to complain to the Governor to file a case against me after attacking me.”
He further alleged that the YSRCP doesn't know the meaning of democracy, and was never answerable to people who voted for them.
He also demanded that the Election Commission officials release the video footage of the attack on him on the day of polling. He claimed that he has never witnessed such atrocities in his political career spanning 40 years.
On Tuesday, the Rajupalem police booked a case against 22 TDP leaders, including Kodela as the seventh accused, after a complaint was filed by a YSRCP polling booth agent.
Speaking to TNM, Rajupalem SI Ashok Babu said that YSRCP polling booth agent Shaik Imam Vali had complained, and said that Kodela and 21 other TDP men entered the polling booth by intimidating YSRCP polling agents, and threatened officials and voters to vote for TDP. The police said that the case investigation is underway.
According to the State Election Commission, at least 25 incidents of violence have taken place, which claimed two lives across the state. Polling in several booths across the state went on till midnight.
Results of the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies will be declared on May 23.