Vijayawada: AP former CM YS Jagan has slammed the TDP led NDA coalition Government for its manipulative election process and for subverting the democratic process like never before.

Speaking to the media persons on Thursday he said that despite the Supreme Court’s directives, there has been no change in the functioning of the TDP led NDA coalition Government. However the opposition YSRCP party has fought back and exposed the follies of the ruling coalition, he added.

YS Jagan said that the entire electoral process had been hijacked from nominations to counting by the CM Chandrababu led TDP –NDA coalition Government. While the YSRCP had won the hearts of the people, even though the mandate had been subverted, but the TDP led NDA Government’s victory in urban local body polls was a moral defeat, he added.

He said that the entire election process was hijacked by Chandrababu and his people, mocking democracy at every stage from nominations to scrutiny, withdrawals, polling and even counting. Such an exercise does not merit being called an election, as it was neither free nor fair, he added.

He alleged that the script in the ZPTC and MPTC polls was the same as in the municipal polls. The police and TDP led NDA coalition goons and rowdies are preventing YSRCP candidates from filing nominations. This was followed by rejection of nominations during scrutiny, attacks on our polling agents, rigging and cycling of votes, he said.

TDP led NDA coalition party resorted to all manner of malafide practices in local body elections across the State, said YS Jagan. From Tekkali Kotabommali to Darsi, Kanigiri, Palamaner, and Vemula and Lingala mandals of the Pulivendula constituency, he added.

YS Jagan said that such an election is a scar on the face of democracy. Voters were prevented from exercising their franchise, rigging continued unabated, and the police acted as TDP agents, using force against voters.

He alleged that despite the Supreme Court’s directives, there has been no change in the functioning of the TDP led coalition Government. YSRCP cadre and booth agents were attacked with petrol bombs, he said. YS Jagan asked showing clips of violence during the local body and municipal elections, why anyone would vote for Chandrababu, who had failed all sections of society from women and farmers to youth by not honouring his promises.

In the municipal polls, the polling percentage and figures were fudged: the numbers were inflated at the counting tables, far exceeding the figures officially announced after polling, he said. He has put Andhra Pradesh up for sale by handing over medical colleges and ports to private parties, while disregarding the common man despite the twin cyclones that wreaked havoc in the State, he added. The manner in which the elections were held could serve as a case study in electoral reforms, as there is enough material, he said.