Chandrababu Naidu, Jaganmohan Reddy MLAs spar in Andhra Pradesh Assembly

Heated arguments over the issue of political murders spilled on to a personal level as legislators from the two camps continued to hurl allegations at each other. Just before adjournment, labour minister K Atchannaidu said, “Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s family had encouraged politics of violence in the state.”

The spat continued as YSRC MLAs Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao (Kodali Nani), enraged by the statements of the minister, barged into the treasury benches. Mr Bhaskar Reddy even allegedly tried to block the camera near Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao.

YSRC leader Jyothula Nehru was also involved in the arguments, while TD leaders Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary along with colleague K. Ramakrishna also upped the ante. TD leader P. Narayanaswami Naidu was stuck in the mob unable to move.

However, YSRC MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy immediately stopped the fight. YSRC leaders said the TD strategy was to terrorise them with murders, while the latter said YSR was famous for it.

A YSRC leader, who witnessed the fight, said, “Whatever be the discussions in the House, when the Assembly is adjourned, the discussions should be closed then and there itself. Arguments shouldn’t continue after adjournment.”

The Legislator further elaborated, “Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and Kodali Nani instigated the spat. Definitely there was tension for a brief period, but it shouldn’t have happened.” Assembly staff in the House was also hurriedly instructing official camerapersons to stop coverage as the House had already been adjourned. YSRC MLA Attar Chand Basha later said, “I am getting threat calls from even small time TD leaders to quit the party.”