The Election Commission of India on Tuesday directed Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena that strict criminal action should be taken against those responsible for damaging EVMs at seven polling stations in Macherla Assembly constituency, media reports said.

The name of YSRCP Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy has been included in the list of accused after the web camera recording showed him damaging EVMs in the polling station 202, reported The Hindu.

The police have not arrested him immediately.

The ECI, meanwhile, said the politician should be taken into custody immediately.

The incident reportedly occurred on May 13.

"YSRCP Sitting MLA Pinneli Ramakrishna Reddy was recorded on a web camera during the incident of vandalising EVMs in 7 polling centres, including PS number 202 in Macharla Assembly constituency," the chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh said in an official statement as quoted by Deccan Chronicle.

"Palnadu district election officials handed over the video footage of all such polling stations to the police to assist in the investigation into the vandalism incident. The police stated that the MLA's name has been included as an accused in the investigation," the statement added.

Opposition leader and the national general secretary of the Telugu Desam Party, Nara Lokesh, alleged he vandalised the machine fearing defeat in the polls.

Sharing a video of the incident, Lokesh posted on X: "YCP MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy vandalized the EVM at the Palwai Gate polling center of Macharla Constituency. I demand that the Election Commission take strict action against Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who has vandalized EVMs and attacked them due to the fear of defeat. People are going to give real verdict on YCP factional politics on June 4."