Friction Within YSRC, TD Over ZPTC By-Poll Raising Tensions in Pulivendula
TD has fielded Latha Reddy, wife of the ruling party’s Pulivendula constituency in-charge B. Tech Ravi, while YSRC has fielded Tummala Hemantha Reddy, son of the former ZPTC member whose death led to the by-election in the ZPTC seat.
Anantapur: With Pulivendula ZPTC by-election scheduled on Tuesday, tension is building up with the ruling Telugu Desam Party trying to gain an upper hand on the home turf of YSRC chief and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
TD has fielded Latha Reddy, wife of the ruling party’s Pulivendula constituency in-charge B. Tech Ravi, while YSRC has fielded Tummala Hemantha Reddy, son of the former ZPTC member whose death led to the by-election in the ZPTC seat.
Situation ahead of the polls has turned tense following a clash between groups of TD and YSRC at Nallgonduvaripalle four days ago. The YSR Congress has charged the coalition government with gross misuse of power and resorting to undemocratic measures to wrest the local body by-poll to undermine Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is the MLA from Pulivendula.
Speaking to media here on Saturday, YSRC spokesperson Rachamallu Siva Prasada Reddy said they are fighting the election not with TDP but with the official machinery, which is colluding with the ruling coalition in damaging the image and fame of YS family in the region.
The opposition party has accused police of threatening and booking cases against active YSRC workers and sympathizers, while not accepting complaints filed by the opposition party.
Siva Prasada Reddy appealed to the people and cadre to stay strong and defeat the unruly elements who have unleashed violence in Pulivendula ZPTC area.
TD leader B. Tech Ravi has countered YSRC saying the opposition party is trying to disturb law and order. “They are even by attacking themselves,” he stated.
The TD constituency in-charge appealed to the State Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls in the ZPTC by-election.