The Election Commission (EC) has taken serious action against YSRCP MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy, who is accused of damaging an electronic voting machine (EVM). This move follows an incident where Reddy was allegedly recorded on a web camera vandalizing an EVM at a polling center in the Macharla constituency of Palnadu district.
A video of the incident involving the ruling YSRCP MLA surfaced, prompting the poll panel to hand over the footage to the state police for further investigation. The chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh stated, “YSRCP Sitting MLA Pinneli Ramakrishna Reddy was recorded on a web camera during the incident of vandalising EVMs in 7 polling centres, including PS number 202 in Macharla Assembly constituency.”
Election officials from Palnadu district provided the police with video footage from all relevant polling stations to assist in the investigation. The police have included the MLA’s name as an accused in the case. The EC emphasized the seriousness of the matter and directed CEO Mukesh Kumar Meena to inform the DGP to take strict action against those involved, aiming to deter such actions in the future and ensure peaceful elections.
Opposition leader and Telugu Desam Party national general secretary, Nara Lokesh, claimed that the ruling party legislator, under Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, resorted to destroying EVMs out of fear of losing the elections. Lokesh shared a video of the incident on X, stating, “YS Jagan Mohan Reddy not only killed his own uncle but also the people who voted for him and, finally, democracy itself. YCP MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy vandalised the EVM at the Palwai Gate polling centre in the Macharla Constituency.”
He demanded strict action from the Election Commission against Reddy, asserting, “People are going to give a real verdict on YCP’s factional politics on June 4.”
Additionally, on Tuesday, an Ambedkar statue in Agraharam village, Pithapuram, Kakinada district, was allegedly vandalized by unidentified individuals, causing unrest and disrupting traffic. The police promised strict action after Dalits gathered in protest, demanding justice, which led to a large police deployment and traffic diversion.
In the assembly elections, the ruling YSRCP is contesting all 175 seats, seeking a new term, while the TDP is running in 144 seats in alliance with the BJP and actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. Under this seat-sharing arrangement, the Jana Sena is contesting 21 seats, and the BJP 10. Andhra Pradesh held its assembly and Lok Sabha elections in a single phase on May 13, with reports of widespread violence as polling concluded.
