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A video of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Andhra Pradesh seemingly discriminating against a Dalit sarpanch has gone viral, sparking widespread outrage on social media. The footage appears to show the MLA refraining from sharing a stage with the sarpanch after learning of his caste.
In the video, PV Parthasarathi, BJP leader and MLA from Adoni, is seen standing in front of a Hindu temple. He calls out to the village sarpanch, saying, “Hey sarpanch, why are you standing there? Come here,” and gestures toward a spot next to him on a raised platform.
However, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader standing beside the MLA is seen signaling to the sarpanch, apparently directing him to remain below the platform. Parthasarathi then asks someone off-camera if the sarpanch is a Christian.
When the TDP leader replies inaudibly, Parthasarathi asks, “Why?” to which the leader responds, “He is SC [Scheduled Caste].” As the sarpanch approaches, some people urge him to climb the platform, but he declines and remains standing nearby on the ground.
The incident took place during Parthasarathi’s recent visit to Dhanapuram village in his constituency. The BJP, TDP, and Jana Sena Party currently form the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh.
The video triggered sharp criticism online, with many condemning both Parthasarathi and TDP leader Krishnamma for allegedly preventing the sarpanch, Chandrashekhar, from joining them on stage due to his caste. Social media users described the incident as “deep-rooted casteism” and a “display of caste arrogance.”
Parthasarathi, who belongs to the Valmiki community – classified as a Backward Class (BC) in Andhra Pradesh and as a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) in some other states – is also the National Secretary of the BJP OBC Morcha. There have been ongoing demands to include Valmikis in the Scheduled Tribe category in Andhra Pradesh.
Responding to the controversy, Parthasarathi said he had only asked if the sarpanch was Christian because he appeared reluctant to step onto the Hindu temple platform.
“The sarpanch was standing at a distance in the crowd. We were standing on a temple’s raised platform. I called him to join us and stand next to me. I then asked if he was from a different religion as he seemed hesitant to stand on the [Hindu] temple platform. That’s when TDP leader Krishnamma answered me, as you saw in the video. We have no intention of discriminating against anyone based on their caste,” Parthasarathi said.
However, he did not deny that the TDP leader did bring up his caste. “I had no such thought, but I must take responsibility for what happened in my presence. I condemn the incident. I must answer anyone who had concerns or was confused or hurt after watching the video. I apologise for what happened,” the MLA said.
“I, too, come from a marginalised BC community. I’ve been fighting for the constitutional rights of BCs and Dalits for years,” Parthasarathi said.