Ahead of local body elections in Andhra Pradesh, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) have traded allegations of attacks and intimidation. While YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the Naidu government of flouting Supreme Court directions on poll security, the TDP accused YSRCP cadres of violence and disrupting the nomination process.

On October 19, while hearing a YSRCP petition, the Supreme Court had asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to address the party’s complaints that its candidates were being prevented from filing nominations for the upcoming urban local body elections. It had directed the DGP to provide protection to candidates who seek it, ensure adequate police deployment and CCTV coverage at nomination centres, and protect candidates going to file nominations. The state police were also asked to submit a compliance report.…