Andhra’s Democracy Is Open, But Only For TDP

Andhra Pradesh has discovered a new administrative innovation: democracy by appointment. The government announces local elections, candidates approach nomination centres, police appear, papers allegedly vanish, and the ruling coalition later presents the resulting uncontested victories as a spontaneous expression of public affection. The only missing feature is a booking fee.

The Supreme Court has directed the State Election Commission to examine complaints that YSRCP candidates were stopped from filing nominations, provide protection, install CCTV at nomination centres and allow at least 48 hours where extensions were permitted. Those are not the usual props for a healthy local election. They are the institutional equivalent of a doctor asking whether the patient has a pulse.

The TDP’s response is that YSRCP cadres were responsible for attacks, vandalism and intimidation in nine places, with video evidence submitted to the SEC. YSRCP has alleged house arrests, detained leaders, torn papers and candidates being physically prevented from reaching election offices. The facts remain contested, as they should be investigated. But the political theatre is already clear. One side says the other is violent; the other says its candidates were not allowed to compete. Both parties seem to regard “free and fair” as a slogan best applied to the other side.

Then came the coalition’s arithmetic. It celebrated victories in 17 urban local bodies: 15 chairperson posts for the TDP, one for Jana Sena and one for the BJP. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy called it “nomination rigging” and pointed to 21 per cent of 2,108 wards being won unanimously. Jagan is a poor lecturer on democratic purity, given his own government’s record of treating political opposition as an administrative inconvenience. But Chandrababu Naidu does not get to inherit those methods, change the stationery and call them governance.

A ruling party that persuades voters deserves victory. A ruling party that manages who reaches the ballot deserves scrutiny. Naidu promised administration; what Andhra is seeing is election management with a victory speech attached. The coalition may win the polls, but the nomination process has already lost.