ANANTAPUR: Political heat has been building up with abusive statements being exchanged in the wake of TD general secretary Nara Lokesh’s Yuvagalam Padayatra in Rayalaseema region. His statements targeting Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and local YSRC MLAs during his padayatra and raising issues of corruption and irregularities are leading to tense situations in mandal and constituency headquarters.
Clashes between YSRC and TD workers at the World Spiritual Centre of Prasanthi Nilayam on Saturday has invited criticism from all sections of people, including devotees of Satya Saibaba, that the decades-old peaceful climate in Puttaparthi is being disturbed.
Challenges between YSRC MLA Sridhar Reddy and TD former MLA Palle Raghunath Reddy over corruption charges led to the clash at Sathemma Temple near the Prasanthi Nilayam. Supporters of the two leaders threw slippers and coconut shells picked up from near Sathemma Temple at each other.
The issue has its genesis in Lokesh addressing a public meeting in Puttaparthi, where he accused YSRC MLA Sridhar Reddy of collecting bribes from builders of Puttaparthi. The clashes in Puttaparthi started within a couple of days with YSRC leaders countering the TD general secretary.
Police have been facing a tough time maintaining law and order when both parties have been trying to resort to violence through adverse speeches and social media posts. “Our policemen had been hit by slippers when trying to control both groups at Puttaparthi,” a senior police officer recalled.
The officer regretted that with assembly polls approaching, political parties are resorting to means fair and foul to gain politically.
Incidents similar to Puttaparthi could be witnessed in Kadiri assembly segment when Lokesh targeted Kadiri MLA Sidda Reddy and YSRC leaders. Further, Rapthadu turned tense after the TD general secretary accused Rapthadu MLA T. Prakash Reddy of land grabbing.
