Kakinada, Nov. 11 -- Left parties staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate here on Wednesday as part of the statewide 'Save Democracy Day' protest, alleging large-scale irregularities in the recent local body elections in Andhra Pradesh.
The protesters alleged that the ruling coalition had resorted to electoral malpractices, including using police force to prevent opposition candidates from filing nominations and obstructing voters from exercising their franchise.
Addressing the gathering, CPM district secretary Karanam Prasadarao, CPI district secretary K. Bodakonda and CPI (ML) New Democracy East Godavari district secretary J. Venkateswerlu alleged that the administrative machinery had supported the irregularities.
They questioned ...