Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been booked for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by visiting the Guntur Chilli Market Yard on February 19, 2025. The visit took place while the election code was in force for the Guntur-Krishna districts Graduate Elections. According to the police, Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with several senior YSRCP leaders, entered the market yard without obtaining prior permission from the district collector and returning officer. The Flying Squad Team, led by Deputy Commissioner-II Ch. Srinivasa Rao of the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC), filed a complaint, stating that the YSRCP leaders had violated the MCC by engaging with farmers and traders at the market. Based on this complaint, an FIR was registered at Nallapadu Police Station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Representation of the People Act (RP Act).
The FIR names several prominent YSRCP leaders, including MLCs Thulasi Raghuram and Lella Appi Reddy, former ministers Kodali Venkateswara Rao (Nani) and Ambati Rambabu, ex-MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, Guntur Mayor Kavati Siva Naga Manohar Naidu, former MP Modugula Venugopal Reddy, and ex-minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani). According to the complaint, the leaders formed a group and entered the market without authorization from the Agricultural Market Committee secretary. The Model Code of Conduct mandates that political leaders seek prior approval for public interactions in restricted zones during election periods, a regulation meant to ensure free and fair elections. The police are now investigating the incident to determine the extent of the violation and the possible consequences for those involved.
This case has sparked political tensions, with YSRCP leaders calling the FIR a politically motivated move to target their party ahead of the elections. Supporters of Jagan Mohan Reddy argue that his visit was not a political rally but a routine interaction with farmers to understand their concerns. However, opposition parties have accused him of deliberately flouting election norms to gain an advantage. With the elections approaching, the case is expected to have significant political ramifications, influencing voter sentiment and adding to the ongoing battle between YSRCP and its rivals in Andhra Pradesh.
