Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday called for fresh elections for the Pulivendula and Vontimitta zilla parishad seats in the Kadapa district under the supervision of central forces, after violence was reported during the bye-polls that were conducted earlier in the day.

“What happened at Pulivendula and Vontimitta is the real ‘vote chori’ [vote theft],” Reddy was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Reddy accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of committing anarchy and murdering democracy by alleging agents from the ruling Telugu Desam Party coerced voters in the region.

“He [Naidu] is running the state as a rowdy kingdom,” Reddy said in a post on X. “He has misused his power as Chief Minister, taken officials into his hands and used the police to hijack this election like terrorists. Today is truly a black day that has seriously injured democracy.”

Reddy further said that his YSR Congress Party will move court to demand that the election be cancelled. “We demand that all those who truly want democracy denounce this injustice and hold re-election under the auspices of the central forces and amidst their security,” he said.

The YSRCP chief on Wednesday reiterated his allegations during a press conference at the party’s central office in Tadepalli, PTI reported.

According to The News Minute, individuals believed to be members of the TDP were also seen assaulting a YSRCP worker in Chinnakottapalli village during the bye-polls.

On its part, the TDP has accused YSRCP members of attacking their party’s Scheduled Caste cell secretary, Nalla Venkata Subbaya.