CPI, CPI(M) to protest alleged election irregularities on November 11

CPI (M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on November 10, 2026.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI(M) and Communist Party of India (CPI) will stage protests across Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday against alleged irregularities, intimidation and attacks during the recent local body elections, CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said on Tuesday (November 9, 2026).

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada, he alleged that the State government had used the police to suppress opposition parties and that the State Election Commission had failed to ensure free and peaceful elections. He claimed that the Left parties had secured 8.2% of the votes in the areas where the CPI(M) contested, compared with 7.4% in 2021.

Criticising the government’s investment policy, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the investment summits had turned into exercises in corporate tourism, with little to show in terms of actual investments and employment. Less than 10% of the investments promised through memoranda of understanding since 2016 had materialised and employment generation had remained below 2, he claimed.

He questioned the employment projections made at successive investment summits, citing promises of 10 lakh jobs in 2016, 22.34 lakh in 2017, 11 lakh in 2018 and several million more in 2023 and 2025. He also raised concerns over the financial credentials of companies signing MoUs and the lack of adequate scrutiny of their capacity to implement projects.

The CPI(M) leader expressed concern over industrial pollution in Visakhapatnam, particularly in the context of proposed data centres and ethanol projects. He demanded an expert committee to examine the environmental implications of the projects.

On the local body election results, he rejected Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that the outcome reflected public endorsement of the government’s performance. He alleged that intimidation and electoral malpractice had influenced the results. He also cautioned against attributing the party’s defeat in Alluri Sitarama Raju district to religious conversions, arguing that such interpretations could encourage religious polarisation.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao urged the government to address issues concerning tribal communities, including the cancellation of G.O. 3, implementation of the 1/70 regulation and land rights. He also criticised attempts to promote corporate projects in the region without adequately addressing local concerns.

He demanded immediate relief for farmers and tenant cultivators affected by cyclones Arnab and Murasu, alleging that damage enumeration and compensation distribution had not been completed. Coconut trees, houses and standing crops had suffered extensive damage, while losses incurred by tenant farmers had also not been properly recorded, he said.

Questioning the Chief Minister’s remarks on demonetisation, he alleged that the discussion on withdrawing high-denomination currency notes was an attempt to divert public attention from rising prices. The 2016 demonetisation had failed to eliminate black money and curb terrorism, he claimed, warning that withdrawing Rs. 500 notes would create further difficulties.

Communist Party of India -Marxist / Communist Party of India