KAKINADA: Ramachandrapuram division police put Telugu Desam MLA Vegulla Jogeswara Rao from Mandapeta and YSRC MLC Thota Trimurthulu under house arrest on Sunday when they challenged each other for a debate over the allocation of TIDCO houses built in Mandapeta and Ramachandrapuram.
Police also imposed Section 144 in Mandapeta and deployed APSP armed police throughout the town. They prevented supporters of both leaders from gathering at the TIDCO Colony in Mandapeta, the venue of the public debate, thereby preventing a possible law and order situation.
Jogeswara Rao and Thota Trimurthulu had been MLAs from Mandapeta and Ramachandrapuram respectively and close friends during the Telugu Desam regime. They both contested the 2019 elections on the TDP ticket. While Jogeswara Rao got elected as MLA from Mandapeta, Trimurthulu had been defeated from Rajamahendravaram, from where he contested. Later, Trimurthulu joined the ruling YSRC, which made him an MLC.
Since then, they have been challenging each other over the distribution of 6,700 TIDCO houses that had been built in Mandapeta and Ramachandrapuram in 2018. While Jogeswara Rao recently blamed the ruling YSRC for not distributing the houses wantonly to the beneficiaries, Trimurthulu has maintained that the houses have not been allotted as they lack basic infrastructure.
There has been a war of words between the two leaders over the allotment of houses leading to bitterness. They ended up challenging each other for a public debate at the TIDCO colony in Mandapeta on Sunday.
Sensing that there could be a law and order situation with supporters of both the ruling party and opposition gathering at the venue, police intervened and imposed Section 144 in the area. They also warned people not to gather at any junction in Mandapeta and its surrounding villages. Then came the house arrest of the two warring leaders on Sunday morning.
Ramachandrapuram DSP Balachandra Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that they have prevented the row between the two leaders and a peaceful atmosphere is prevailing in the town.
