Clashes Rock Kuppam During Nomination Scrutiny
Several Injured in Scuffle During Nomination Scrutiny; Missing Candidate Row Fuels Tensions
Tirupati: Political tensions escalated in Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Kuppam constituency on Monday as Telugu Desam (TD) and YSR Congress (YSRC) cadres clashed during scrutiny of nominations for the municipal elections.
The clash left several people injured, while allegations surrounding the reported disappearance of YSRC chairman candidate Vijay Kumar further heightened tensions between the two parties.
Trouble erupted near the Kuppam municipal office and Ambika Kalyana Mandapam, where supporters of both parties had gathered during the scrutiny process. An argument between the two groups escalated into a scuffle, prompting the police to resort to a lathicharge. Additional police personnel were deployed in the town to prevent further clashes.
Those injured included TD leaders TM Babu Naidu, former Gudupalle mandal party president Naga Bhushanam and minority leader Zakir Shah. They were shifted to the Kuppam government area hospital. Around six TD leaders were undergoing treatment there during the day.
TD leaders alleged that YSRC supporters had arrived in large numbers and attacked them. They claimed that groups from the Krishnagiri region of neighbouring Tamil Nadu had been brought to Kuppam and that sticks and iron rods were used in the attack.
The YSRC, meanwhile, alleged that TD workers had abducted its municipal chairman candidate, Vijay Kumar, to prevent him from participating in the election process. The party also accused TD supporters of surrounding the residence of YSRC MLC KRJ Bharath and pelting stones at it.
TD MLC Kancharla Srikanth rejected the kidnapping allegation, describing it as political drama staged by the opposition to gain public sympathy and create a law-and-order controversy ahead of the elections. He dismissed the allegations as false and accused the YSRC of resorting to such tactics out of fear of electoral defeat.
Vijay Kumar later posted a video on social media denying that he had been kidnapped. He said he had gone out for personal work and would return to Kuppam shortly.
The YSRC demanded action over the alleged attack on the residence of its MLC.