Political tensions in Andhra Pradesh have escalated during the ongoing local body election nomination process, with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy trading allegations over violence, intimidation and the conduct of elections.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, a former chief minister, has demanded the immediate imposition of President’s Rule in the state. He has accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government of using the police and administrative machinery to intimidate opposition candidates and obstruct the filing of nominations.

Naidu, meanwhile, has accused the YSRCP of resorting to violence and using court cases to obstruct government initiatives. The rival accusations have intensified the political confrontation ahead of the local body elections.

Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘DNA’ remark triggers political row

On Monday, Naidu accused the YSRCP of creating disturbances in several constituencies and alleged that criminal elements from other states were being brought into areas including Punganur, Rayachoti, Dharmavaram, Tirupati, Pulivendula and Darsi.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also criticised the opposition over its legal challenges concerning issues such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reservations for Backward Classes.

Accusing the opposition of using allegations of injustice to obstruct administrative and electoral processes, Naidu said, “Violence is in their DNA.”

The remark added to the ongoing political exchange between the ruling coalition and the YSRCP.

Jagan alleges intimidation of opposition candidates

Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the TDP-led government of creating an environment in which opposition candidates are unable to file their nominations freely.

The YSRCP chief alleged that party candidates were threatened with knives and sticks at nomination centres and that nomination papers were snatched or torn. He also accused police personnel of acting against opposition candidates and party leaders.

Reddy further alleged that police officials were picking up candidates during the night to prevent them from participating in the election process.

He claimed that three YSRCP MPs who accompanied candidates as proposers were also targeted and that their nomination papers were snatched and torn in the presence of police personnel.

These claims form part of the opposition party’s allegations against the state government. The ruling side has disputed the YSRCP’s account and accused it of politicising the violence.

Tensions reported during nomination scrutiny in Kuppam

The political confrontation coincided with tensions in Kuppam, Naidu’s home constituency in Chittoor district, on Monday during the scrutiny of nominations for local body elections.

Workers of the TDP and YSRCP allegedly clashed near a nomination centre. Police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the rival groups.

Several people were injured and taken to hospitals in ambulances, according to the report. Candidates and party workers were also seen running for safety as the situation turned tense.

An official confirmation of the injuries and police action was awaited at the time of the report.

Jagan calls for central intervention

Demanding immediate central government intervention, Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that constitutional institutions in Andhra Pradesh were being undermined and that democratic rights were being violated.

He called for the imposition of President’s Rule and sought the deployment of central paramilitary forces to help ensure free and fair local body elections. He also demanded CCTV coverage of the entire election process.

The demand follows the YSRCP chief’s allegations that opposition candidates are being prevented from filing nominations and that police personnel are failing to protect them.

The ruling coalition has rejected the opposition’s allegations, leaving the two sides locked in a dispute over responsibility for the violence and the fairness of the electoral process.

Andhra Pradesh local body election schedule

The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, headed by State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha, announced the election schedule on October 14.

According to the announced timetable:

• Urban local bodies: Polling for 100 urban local bodies is scheduled for October 28, with counting on October 30.
• MPTC and ZPTC elections: Polling for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies is scheduled for November 3, with counting on November 5.
• Gram Panchayat elections: Polling is scheduled in three phases on November 26, November 29 and December 2.

The nomination process has become a fresh point of confrontation between the ruling coalition and the YSRCP, with both sides accusing the other of undermining the democratic process.

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani has been admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi with a chest infection. Hospital officials have said that his condition is stable.

The 98-year-old leader was brought to the hospital at around 7.30 pm on Friday, October 16, and admitted to its pulmonary department. He is receiving treatment and remains under observation by a team of doctors, with medical tests underway.

LK Advani’s recent hospitalisation

Advani was previously admitted to Apollo Hospital in May 2026 because of age-related health complications. He remained under medical care for a few days before being discharged, according to the report.

In December 2024, the veteran BJP leader was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for medical management and investigations. He received treatment under the supervision of a neurologist, and the hospital had described his condition as stable at the time.

On December 17, 2024, the hospital reported gradual improvement and indicated that he was likely to be moved out of the ICU within the next one to two days.

Advani’s political career

Advani has been a prominent figure in the BJP’s rise in Indian politics. He served as the party’s president on multiple occasions and played a significant role in expanding its organisational presence.

His 1990 Ram Rath Yatra became a major event in the country’s political history. He later served as Union Home Minister and was India’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 in the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In recognition of his contribution to public life, Advani was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 2024. He had previously received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has renewed his demand for an all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the government’s proposed delimitation exercise, arguing that political parties must have adequate time to examine the proposals before they are finalised for consideration in Parliament.

In a letter to the prime minister on Friday, October 16, Kharge also raised concerns over what he described as an unprecedented delay in formally proroguing Parliament’s Monsoon Session. He said 64 days had passed since the session was adjourned sine die on August 13, while both Houses were yet to be prorogued.

Kharge seeks wider consultations on delimitation

Kharge said he had first written to Modi on April 11, requesting an all-party meeting before the government introduced a constitutional amendment bill concerning delimitation.

According to the Congress president, the government did not convene the requested meeting before making the bills public late on April 14 and calling a special session of Parliament on April 16.

The constitutional amendment bill on delimitation subsequently failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17.

Kharge said he had again written to the prime minister on July 16 and August 27, reiterating his demand for consultations. In his latest letter, he made the request for the fourth time, asking the government to discuss its revised proposals with political parties before finalising them for parliamentary consideration.

The Congress chief stressed that political parties should receive sufficient time to discuss the proposals among themselves and with other stakeholders.

He also cautioned the government against attempting to push through another far-reaching constitutional amendment without adequate deliberation.

Congress raises concern over Parliament session

Apart from delimitation, Kharge highlighted the delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session, which was adjourned sine die on August 13.

He described the 64-day gap as unprecedented and linked the issue to concerns about possible government plans to bring fresh delimitation proposals before Parliament.

Prorogation formally ends a parliamentary session. Kharge’s letter raised the issue while urging the government to ensure wider political consultation before proceeding with any new legislative proposals.

Jairam Ramesh shares Kharge’s letter

Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh also drew attention to the letter by sharing it on X.

Ramesh said Kharge had written to Modi about the delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session and the possibility of further government moves on delimitation.

The Congress’s latest demand centres on securing time for political parties to examine the government’s proposals before they are finalised for consideration in Parliament.