In the early hours of Friday, Congress leader Challa Vamshi Reddy was attacked and his vehicle pelted with stones as he was returning from a polling station in Jangareddy Palle villagee in Telangana’s Talakondapalle Mandal.
He was immediately taken to a hospital nearby following which he was later shifted to Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Hospital in Hyderabad.
#TelanaganaElections2018: Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy, Congress candidate from Kalwakurthy, Mahbubnagar was allegedly attacked by unknown miscreants earlier today. He was later shifted to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Hospital, Hyderabad and is out of danger now. pic.twitter.com/bpgmAQBs5H
— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018
Vamshi is contesting in the elections from Kalwakurthy in Mahbubnagar.
Following the attack on the Congress leader, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has written to the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana demanding immediate action to be taken against the perpetrators.
The TPCC further alleged that the attack was orchestrated by supporters of the TRS and BJP with the intention of vitiating the atmosphere at the poll booths in favour of their respective parties.
“We would like to submit that TRS and BJP workers are indulging in attacks on Congress candidates and workers and threatening them. Their main intention is to create an atmosphere for one-sided polling in their favour,” reads the letter, penned by the TPCC, in which they claim that the attack was carried out by the opposition parties. “Shri Vamshichand Reddy, Congress candidate from Kalwakurthhy was attacked by the BJP workers at Jangareddy Pally village with stones and lathis. He was seriously injured and rushed to NIMS, Hyderabad, where he was admitted. This attack was organised by the BJP contesting candidate Shri Talloju Achary.”
Furthermore, the TPCC stated that Congress candidate P Rohit Reddy, from the Tandur constituency, was attacked by TRS workers on Thursday night. They also claimed that Madhu Yashki Goud, the AICC Secretary, was allegedly attacked by TRS workers in Metpally of the Korutla constituency.
“There is scope that BJP and TRS workers may attack our leaders and workers even after the completion of the polling period. We request your goodselves to take immediate action and to see that no such incidents take place again in future,” ends the letter, signed by senior Congress leader M Kodanda Reddy, advocate Jandhyala Ravisankar and TPCC spokesperson G Niranjan.
Following the incident, police arrived at the spot to control the situation and to ensure that voting continued smoothly.