Nandyal: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Wednesday lodged a protest with the Election Commission (EC) highlighting the heavy presence of TDP leaders in the constituency in blatant violation of the election code of conduct.

Speaking to reporters party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma said, "A big contingent of ministers and MLAs are stationed in Nandyal and are openly distributing money, luring the voters and taking orders from the Chief Minister. Apparently, the TDP has been lagging behind in the run-up to the polls and the misuse of official machinery has been so glaring that party leader Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy was not allowed to stay in Nandyal while the ministers and MLAs have been roaming around freely flouting code of conduct."

"The raids on our party candidate Shilpa Mohan Reddy’s residence and the free movement of TDP leaders and the sister of TDP candidate checking the agent’s credentials by entering the polling booths show the way in which the official machinery is being misused," she said. Despite all the efforts by the ruling party, the victory of YSR Congress Party is a certainty and people coming in large numbers to the polling booths indicate that the wind is blowing in our favour, she said.

"We have reported all the irregularities to the Election Commission and have appealed to our leaders and cadre to exercise restraint as the large turnout is an indication of a victory to YSRCP," she said.