Amaravati: YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday condemned the arrest and detention of party MLC Lella Appi Reddy, accusing the Chandrababu Naidu-led government of misusing its power and the police machinery to suppress opposition voices.

In a post on X, Jagan alleged that the government was foisting false cases and making arbitrary arrests against party leaders, workers and members of the public who had peacefully protested against electoral irregularities. Describing the action as an abuse of power, he said the government’s approach was reminiscent of the Emergency.

Questioning the transportation of ballot boxes after polling in the parishad elections at Vengalayapalem in Guntur Rural mandal on Thursday, Jagan asked why ballot boxes meant to be taken directly to Nagarjuna University were unloaded midway at Nallapadu. He sought to know whose instructions led to the unloading and why adequate security arrangements were not maintained.

He alleged that YSRCP workers, leaders and local residents had caught the alleged irregularity red-handed when ballot boxes intended for the strong room were found on the roadside and had staged a peaceful protest. Instead of addressing their concerns, the police resorted to a lathi charge and cases were registered against party leaders, he charged.

Jagan questioned the booking of an MLC in cases relating to dacoity and theft, describing it as an outrageous attempt to intimidate the opposition. He also alleged that irregularities had taken place at various stages of the local body elections, including nominations, scrutiny, polling booths, repeated voting and the reporting of polling percentages. Accusing the government of attempting to manipulate ballot boxes even after polling had concluded, Jagan directly questioned Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over the alleged electoral malpractices.

He said the use of police and government machinery to silence those questioning irregularities would not conceal the alleged wrongdoing.