TDP national president and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has termed panchayat polls in Andhra Pradesh as the “people’s victory” in the just-concluded panchayat elections in the State thanks to the contesting candidates who stood up and fought against the ruling YCP atrocities and poll violations with courage and confidence.
Naidu warned the Chief Minister and his party MLAs that their midnight murder of democracy perpetrated in the panchayat polls would not run in the coming municipal elections. The urban voters, young people, traders and educated sections were all well prepared to oppose the YCP for its J-tax collections, increased municipal taxes and unabashed sale of unhealthy J-liquor brands.
Addressing a press conference here, the TDP chief asserted that the TDP supported candidates won 41.7 percent vote share in the 4th phase panchayat polls despite the multifarious threats and election violations by the YCP leaders. The TDP by itself won 1,105 out of the total 2,748 panchayats and 31 more TDP allies also emerged victorious. Altogether, the TDP and its allies won 1,136 seats. The TDP would have got 10 percent more vote share if the ruling YCP leaders were prevented from committing irregularities.