Jagan Mohan Reddy stages sit-in protest in Pulivendula amid urban local body poll clashes

UPDATE - follow-up to Andhra civic polls: Jagan stages sit-in in Pulivendula, demands repoll; 37.13% turnout by 1 p.m. | LIVE: YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy staged a sit-in outside the Returning Officer's office in Pulivendula on Sunday to demand a repoll following clashes between TDP and YSRCP workers during Andhra Pradesh's urban local body elections. Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that his party's polling agents were denied entry into several booths and that journalists were beaten up with cameras destroyed.

Turnout and Incidents

Clashes broke out in Pulivendula with stone throwing before police brought the situation under control. The State Election Commission reported that overall voter turnout reached 48.03% by 3 p.m. across the State, with roughly 46.54 lakh voters casting ballots. Minister Nara Lokesh claimed the YSRCP came well-prepared in Kadapa while polling elsewhere remained peaceful.

Context

Urban local body elections in Andhra Pradesh involve municipalities, municipal corporations, and nagar panchayats across the State to elect local civic representatives. Such elections often see intense local political contestation between major regional parties like the TDP and YSRCP.