Nellore Politics Heats Up As Yadav Defends MP Vemireddy, Slams Former Minister Anil

 Tirupati: Nellore’s political landscape has turned tense, with deputy mayor Roop Kumar Yadav launching a counterattack on former minister and YSRC leader P. Anil Kumar Yadav over his allegations against MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy. The rift comes in the wake of Anil accusing Vemireddy of monopolising the district’s mining industry and threatening his political opponents.

Roop Kumar, who joined the Telugu Desam ahead of the 2024 elections, dismissed Anil’s claims as baseless and misleading. Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, he defended Vemireddy’s role in the high-purity quartz (HPQ) sector, stating that his entry into the industry was aimed at attracting legal investment and industrial growth to Nellore.

“Several companies are exporting quartz, not just one,” Roop asserted, challenging Anil to provide evidence for his claims. “If proven otherwise, I will permanently quit politics,” he added. He further pointed out that the companies themselves had acknowledged Vemireddy’s assistance in obtaining necessary approvals.

Roop Kumar also accused Anil of turning on the very people who had supported his political ascent. He alleged that Anil extorted hospital owners during the Covid-19 crisis while Vemireddy provided free medical aid. He further claimed that Anil demanded Rs 7 lakh from a Dalit youth for a job post, despite the youth’s family having served him for years.

Roop criticised Anil for fleeing Nellore after his election defeat and distancing himself from his core supporters. Referring to past allegations, he said Anil had links to cricket betting and that he had once taken the fall in a police case to shield him.