Tension grips Nellore as TDP and YSRCP cadres clash

Political violence erupts in Nellore district between TDP and YSRCP, with accusations of bias against ruling party by opposition.

Two instances of political violence between the cadres of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) rocked Nellore district over the last four days.

The party workers clashed at Kolladinne village in Bogolu mandal of Kavali Assembly constituency on January 17. The issue had its roots in 2022, when the project to construct a temple at a local government land was stalled due to the feud between the two groups. The groups owing allegiance to the two parties have been at loggerheads since then and the fight spilled over to the public when one Palleboyina Srinivasulu Reddy and his grandson were allegedly attacked by members of the other group.

Another local elected representative allegedly came under attack by members of the rival group, who was also admitted to the Government General Hospital in Nellore.

YSRCP district convener Kakani Govardhan Reddy, who called on both the party sympathisers and activists undergoing treatment at Kavali Area Hospital and Nellore GGH, flayed the ruling alliance government of unleashing a reign of terror on the opposition party workers.

In the same vein, he also attacked the Police Department of being subservient to the ruling party leaders and turning a blind eye to the brutal attacks perpetrated by them, besides framing the YSRCP cadre in false cases. “While the police booked cases on eight members on the injured side, even on those not present at the scene of crime, they named only two from the attacker’s side, which is blatantly one-sided,” he told the media.

On the other hand, Kavali TDP MLA Kavya Krishna Reddy brushed aside the allegations and accused Mr. Govardhan Reddy of creating trouble in his constituency.