Tirupati: As elections are nearing, the state is heading towards a fierce contest between the top two major parties,Telugu Desam and YSR Congress. The top leaders of the both the parties are getting engaged in verbal duel while the lower-rung party cadre are taking it to another level and resorting to exchange of blows, irrespective of the stature of the leaders.
This became clear recently, when the ruling party cadre allegedly attacked Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, YSRC leader and the sitting legislator of Chandragiri constituency, the home turf of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Mr Reddy was allegedly attacked by a few TD party men, who reportedly used pepper spray on him when he attended a government programme held under the banner ‘Pasupu Kunkuma’ at Vedantapuram Agra-haram in Chandragiri.
The legislator was obstructed by the ruling party men when he reached the venue and was warned.
When he reached the dais and tried to hold the mike to address the gathering, the ruling party men stopped him and pulled his mike down.
One of the TD functionaries allegedly attacked Mr Chevireddy with pepper spray and he collapsed on the ground.
Meanwhile, in the recent past, there were several instances where the functionaries of both the parties indulged in exchange of blows, which led to the police registering several cases.
As the TD had lost this constituency in the past three elections, it has now become a challenge for it to regain foothold in Chandragiri Assembly seat and therefore their choice is Pulivarthi Nani, TD’s Chittoor district president as constituency in-charge and the party proposed contestant.
As Mr. Nani is not a local, he has already started his campaign and has been visiting each and every village in this constituency and is leaving no stone unturned in drawing mileage from the government schemes like assets distribution, Pasupu Kumkuma, Chandranna Barosa, etc.
“The ruling party leaders are trying to gain mileage by attending and interacting with the public at these government programmes. The local officials are also violating protocol like inviting the local legislator to government programmes. When I reached
Pasupu-Kunkuma programme held at Vedanta Puram, TD leaders obstructed me and beat me up. Not just this occasion, there were several instances where TD men attacked us,” Mr. Chevireddy Bhaskar said from a hospital after the attack.
