'Illegal' YSRCP Office Demolished In Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Calls It 'Vendetta Politics'

The demolished structure was prepared for a slab before being razed.

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) and Mangalagiri Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC) demolished an under-construction office of the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) early on Saturday. The building was located on allegedly illegally occupied land measuring 870.40 square meters in R.S No.202-A-1, within the boat yard compound of Seethanagaram in Guntur.

YSRCP responded by calling the demolition the 'beginning of vendetta politics.' They stated that the action was taken despite a high court order, which they claimed made it contempt of court. The Hindu reported that the land in question was allegedly illegally occupied.

Legal Battle and Court Orders

On Friday, YSRCP Guntur district president M Seshagiri Rao filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He requested the court to instruct the State government, CRDA, and MTMC not to take any action against the building until the hearing concluded. The plea argued that the CRDA's actions were illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional, violating principles of natural justice.

Despite this, the demolition began around 5:30 am using excavators and bulldozers. YSRCP claimed that their lawyer had informed the CRDA Commissioner about the court's order to halt any demolition activity. However, CRDA proceeded with the demolition, potentially leading to further legal scrutiny for defying the High Court's directive.

Political Reactions

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and current CM Chandrababu Naidu of escalating political vendetta. In a post on X, Reddy said, "Like a dictator, he had bulldozers demolish the nearly completed YSR Congress Party central office in Tadepalli. He disregarded the High Court's orders."

Reddy further stated that law and justice have disappeared in the state. He accused Chandrababu Naidu of sending a violent message about governance for the next five years through this incident. Reddy urged all democrats in the country to condemn Naidu's actions and declared that YSRCP would not bow down to threats or acts of vendetta.

The demolished structure was prepared for a slab before being razed. This action marks the first instance of a party office being demolished in Andhra Pradesh's history.