Cars torched, vehicles attacked as YSRCP-TDP clashes erupt during local body nominations

Violent clashes took place between the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) during the nominations for the Local Body elections on Friday, October 16, with vehicles vandalised, cars set on fire and several people injured. Both the parties blamed each other for attacking party candidates. 

YSRCP MP PV Midhun Reddy’s convoy was attacked with stones, sticks, and iron rods, allegedly by TDP workers, while he was accompanying his party candidates to file nominations in Punganur town of Annamayya district on Friday, October 16. 

Videos showed groups of people throwing stones and sticks at passing cars. The YSRCP alleged that TDP leaders and workers blocked MP P V Midhun Reddy’s convoy as it headed to the nomination centre at Basavaraja Government Junior College, then attacked the vehicles and vandalised those belonging to YSRCP leaders.

TDP leaders have in turn alleged that it was Midhun Reddy’s supporters and YSRCP cadres who attacked them. Madhusudhan Naidu, TDP’s Punganur in-charge, alleged that YSRCP workers threw glass bottles at TDP leaders who were filing their nominations, and tried to hit them with their cars. 

Visuals showed MP Midhun Reddy’s gunmen were also injured during the clashes at the Punganur nomination centre. 

Several vehicles were set on fire in Rayachoti amid the tensions on the first day of filing nominations for the upcoming local body elections. 

The party has also alleged incidents of intimidation, death threats and obstruction of YSRCP candidates in Tadipatri, Tirupati, Kadapa, and Rayachoti.

In a letter to the State Election Commissioner (SEC), YSRCP state general secretary Lella Appi Reddy also alleged that police present at the location remained spectators instead of intervening to stop the violence. The party demanded that the State Election Commission intervene and direct the police to register criminal cases and arrest those responsible, and take action against officers who failed to prevent the attack. It also sought protection for candidates to file their nominations safely. 

YSRCP MP Maddila Gurumoorthy also wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking their intervention in the attack on Rajampet MP Midhun Reddy, who is also the YSRCP’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha. 

Midhun Reddy’s father and former state Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said the TDP government and the police must take responsibility for the attack on the MP.