The YSR Congress Party, led by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has long raised suspicions about alleged electoral malpractices during last year’s assembly elections, which resulted in the victory of the TDP-led coalition. Jagan and his party have claimed that voter lists were manipulated ahead of the 2024 elections. However, their concerns remained largely muted, as launching a full-scale campaign could have strained relations with the BJP national leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Now, Jagan’s sister and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila has taken up the issue with a state-wide signature campaign protesting electoral malpractices, following the model of her party’s previous agitations in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Bihar. Announcing the campaign on Monday, Sharmila urged public participation, stating that signatures will be collected until October 15 against what she terms the “theft of votes.”

Sharmila accused the Election Commission of being compromised and failing to conduct free and fair elections. She highlighted that over one crore new votes were added just months before the polls, calling it blatant manipulation. She alleged that legitimate votes against the BJP were removed, while fraudulent votes favoring the ruling party were inserted.

Calling for a nationwide movement to protect democracy and the Constitution, Sharmila’s campaign indirectly supports Jagan’s suspicions regarding the TDP-led coalition’s victory. Political analysts note that her campaign could bolster Jagan’s position, raising questions about why he has not publicly supported her efforts.