A former MLA from Andhra Pradesh has been arrested for allegedly damaging an Electronic Voting Machine unit during the elections in the state. Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, then MLA from YSR Congress, was arrested after the Andhra Pradesh High Court turned down his appeal for pre-arrest bail.

While hearing his appeal, the High Court said those entrusted with public office are expected to uphold exemplary standards of conduct.

The Election Commission had considered the incident not just a criminal act “but also an egregious attack on the democratic process,” and decided to take exemplary action, the Commission said in a statement.

On May 13, around 12.30 pm, Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy — who was the sitting MLA from Macherla assembly constituency — had entered a polling station with his supporters and vandalized an EVM and VVPAT machine. The incident was recorded in the web camera installed by the election authorities. The polling station was considered a critical polling station. Several incidents of violence were reported from the constituency the same day, with his direct and indirect involvement, the police said.

“EVMs are central to ensuring free and fair elections, which are the cornerstone of any democracy. Damaging these machines undermines the integrity of the electoral process, potentially disenfranchising voters and casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election results,” the Commission had said.

Deciding to take exemplary action, the Commission had ordered the arrest of the MLA.

A case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the Representation of the Peoples Act 1951.

By that time Mr Reddy was on the run and was located only after he approached the court for bail to prevent arrest.

Pandalaneni Sivaprasad. Katari Jagadish. Anantha Lakshmi. Syed Anwar. Challa Eswari. These not-so familiar names are going to get a lot of spotlight. They are the working class people who have been named the star campaigners by the Jagan Reddy Mohan party for the elections, possibly a first anywhere.

“Amid a popular trend of enlisting film stars, celebrities, and influencers as star campaigners for political parties, the YSRCP has chosen an extraordinary path. A path that has not been attempted anywhere in the country before. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP President Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to make the common people of Andhra Pradesh his ‘Star Campaigners’ in the upcoming elections, marking a historic first in the country,” said the party in a statement.

The party has submitted a list of “12 commoners” to the Election Commission, designating them as YSRCP’s official ‘Star Campaigners’ for the upcoming polls, adding that they will represent the nearly five crore people of the state.

“It is the YSRCP’s belief that every person of the state is their ‘Star Campaigner.’ These individuals, hailing from humble backgrounds, will campaign for the party on ground and help propagate Jagan Mohan Reddy’s message till the last mile,” the party said, aiming to score a second term.

Out of the 12 star campaigners, 4 are homemakers, 2 are farmers, 1 is an auto driver, 1 a tailor, and 4 are former government volunteers.

Earlier while campaigning, Jagan Reddy called the common people his star campaigners and asked them to go to every house and highlight the good things done by his government.

The state will go to polls on May 13 for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats. The votes will be counted on June 4.

A look at some of the star campaigners:

Pandalaneni Sivaprasad, from Avanigadda constituency, comes from a family of farmers.

Katari Jagadish, from Anakapalli constituency, runs a small roadside shop sewing seat covers for two-wheelers.

Anantha Lakshmi, representing Rajahmundry City Constituency, works at a clothing shop.

Syed Anwar, Nellore Rural, Nellore District, works as a government teacher.

Challa Eswari, from Mylavaram Constituency, works as a YSRCP government volunteer.

Pandalaneni Sivaprasad, from Avanigadda constituency, comes from a family of farmers.

Minister for Education Botcha Satyanarayana on October 27 said that the people would reject the TDP-Jana Sena Party alliance in the 2024 general elections as they were keen to support YSRCP which ensured livelihood, dignity and empowerment to backward classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and minorities and other marginalised sections of the society.
| Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

Minister for Education Botcha Satyanarayana on October 27 said that the people would reject the TDP-Jana Sena Party alliance in the 2024 general elections as they were keen to support YSRCP which ensured livelihood, dignity and empowerment to backward classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and minorities and other marginalised sections of the society.

Along with Ministers Budi Mutyala Naidu, and Meruga Nagarjuna, he addressed the press conference in Vizianagaram ahead of the Samajika Sadhikara Yatra to be held in Gajapathinagaram constituency. Mr. Satyanarayana alleged that former Chief Minister Chandrababu had cheated the A.P. people by not implementing TDP’s manifesto after assuming power in 2014.

He said that Mr. Babu was jailed by the court of law and TDP cannot blame the government for his imprisonment. He refuted the allegations of Chandra Babu’s wife Nara Bhuvaneswari who sought freedom for the people for YSRCP’s rule.

Mr. Satyanarayana said that she was holding meetings without any restrictions and it was indicating that freedom of speech was not curtailed by the administration. Deputy Speaker Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy, Bobbili MLA Sambangi Venkata China Appala Naidu, S.Kota legislator Kadubandi Srinivasa Rao, YSRCP North Andhra coordinator Y.V. Subba Reddy, Vizianagaram Zilla Parishad chairperson Majji Srinivasa Rao and others were present.