A senior official from the Election Commission of India (ECI) disclosed that the chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) of Andhra Pradesh have been summoned to New Delhi on May 16. This summons pertains to the post-poll violence witnessed in the state.

"The senior-most officials of the state have been summoned to provide personal explanations for the administration's failure to control post-poll violence," stated the official. They added that the purpose is to understand preemptive measures being implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Election Commission has instructed Chief Secretary K S Jawahar Reddy and Police Chief Harish Kumar Gupta to ensure an end to the ongoing violence and to uphold the model code of conduct.

Violence erupted in Andhra Pradesh following elections held on May 13 across all 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly constituencies.

Reports indicate an increase in violence compared to the 2019 general elections, with allegations exchanged between the ruling YSR Congress led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and opposition parties.

TDP has accused the YSR Congress of abducting its poll agents, with reports of three TDP polling agents allegedly kidnapped in the Punganur assembly constituency.

In response, the ruling party has claimed that the TDP engaged in violence and disruptions during the voting process.

In another incident, YSR Congress' Tenali Assembly candidate Annabattuni Siva Kumar was caught on camera slapping a voter who objected to him attempting to jump the queue. This resulted in a physical altercation between YSR Congress cadre and the voter.

ECI subsequently directed the police to place Siva Kumar under house arrest until the end of polling. Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena reported sporadic violence in various parts of the state.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has accused the YSR Congress of abducting its poll agents, specifically citing three incidents in the Punganur assembly constituency. Conversely, the ruling party alleges that the TDP engaged in violence and disruptions during the voting process.

YSR Congress' Tenali Assembly candidate Annabattuni Siva Kumar was caught on camera slapping a voter who protested his attempt to jump the queue. This altercation escalated into a physical confrontation between the YSR Congress cadre and the voter.

Consequently, ECI directed the police to place Siva Kumar under house arrest until the conclusion of polling. Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena reported sporadic violence in various parts of the state.

Polling disrupted in Kuppam, Railway Koduru, and Macherla due to altercations and EVM damage. Clashes reported in Tadipatri, Gannavaram, Tirupati, and Palnadu. Vehicles damaged, crude bombs hurled. Polling agents kidnapped, released after EC intervention.

Image source: PTI