Why Andhra local body nominations turned violent
By now, you must have all seen the visuals of political violence in Andhra Pradesh. Not on voting or counting day, but even as people went to file nominations for the local body polls.
The alleged attempt to steal elections unfolded not through manipulated voter lists, or booth capturing BUT through raw physical intimidation.
Ever since election notifications were issued on October 14, violence has broken out across the state: at least 31 official incidents of election violence have been logged by law enforcement. 16 FIRs have been filed specifically for the physical snatching, ripping, and destruction of nomination papers. The escalation on the ground has been intense.
Pulivendula, the family fortress of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, turned into a combat zone.
The YSRCP has alleged that state machinery and police forces colluded and created blockades to stop candidates from filing nominations.
The TDP in turn has said the YSRCP was indulging in criminal politics.
This scale of violence should make us ask: Why are these local body polls so critical in Andhra Pradesh? Why are we witnessing this level of violence? And what is really at stake?
Let me explain.
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Produced by Megha Mukundan, script by Pooja Prasanna, edit by Nikhil Sekhar, Dharini Prabharan camera by Ajay R
