Dastagiri blocks Jagan’s convoy, Pulivendula boils over on polling day

PULIVENDULA

Pulivendula witnessed high-voltage political drama on Sunday after Shaik Dastagiri, approver in the sensational Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case, dramatically intercepted the convoy of former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, triggering tension in the YSRCP stronghold.

Dastagiri arrived in a Scorpio SUV and parked it directly in the path of Jagan's convoy while the former chief minister was travelling from the helipad towards his residence at Bakarapuram. The sudden obstruction created a tense situation, with YSRCP supporters confronting Dastagiri.

According to reports, some supporters intercepted his vehicle and vandalised it. Police personnel rushed to the spot, intervened and escorted Dastagiri away before the confrontation could escalate. Jagan, meanwhile, continued in his convoy without responding to him.

The dramatic episode came amid an increasingly bitter polling battle in the constituency. Jagan accused the ruling TDP of widespread electoral malpractice, alleging that his party's polling agents were driven out of 70 of the 80 polling booths in the municipality.

The former chief minister subsequently staged a sit-in outside the Returning Officer's office after officials reportedly denied him entry. Accompanied by party leaders and affected polling agents, he demanded an impartial inquiry and repolling, alleging booth capturing, voter intimidation and obstruction of genuine voters.

Jagan also announced that he would not cast his vote unless repolling was ordered, turning his visit to his home turf into a political protest.

The TDP rejected the allegations, accusing the YSRCP of attempting to disrupt polling and intimidate voters. Police reported clashes and stone-pelting between supporters of the two parties.

With more than 1,000 police personnel deployed in Pulivendula, security was tightened across sensitive locations as the administration struggled to contain the political confrontation.