Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday went after YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, criticising him for failing to demonstrate his duty as a Chief Minister, political leader and a family man.
Naidu alleged that Jagan was involved in “vendetta” politics that was responsible to spread misinformation and harm reputational assets of the state of Andhra Pradesh. He challenged YSRCP’s sincerity towards the responsibilities of the public and charged his party to be responsible for undermining the democratic processes.
No institutional or legal framework exists to protect people from violence in local elections, Naidu alleges.
The TDP chief has cast accuse on the YSRCP of thumping people down in local body elections to defeat democratic process. He cited events in multiple districts in his assertions.
In his speech, Naidu released a booklet titled The Same Violence, the Same Lies, the Same Anarchy and videos of incidents that he alleged had ties to the opposition party.
Naidu also lambasted Jagan’s “hit and run” way of doing politics, accusing the YSRCP leader of leveling accusations and filing court petitions without taking any responsibility.
Further, the chief minister touched on the achievements of the YSRCP in their four-day rule, including the sides swept local elections without having to compete against any opposition.
TDP Promises to Uphold Law and Order
Though he condemned the violence, Naidu assured that it was not a government policy to take the law into their own hands and retaliate. He, however, said that the TDP did not back out of fear and would defend the law and order.
He also said law and order in the country should be respected, as well as democratic principles.
The comments indicate ongoing political tensions between the current ruling TDP and the opposition YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has labeled Jagan and his government as violent and disseminating falsehoods, but these are only claims by the Chief Minister and have not specifically been proved by the statements made.