MP–MLA Face-Off at Nemali Temple Triggers Political Storm

VIJAYAWADA: A supremacy tussle between two senior leaders of the Telugu Desam party in NTR district spilled into the epicenter of faith, casting a shadow over the celestial wedding of Lord Venugopala Swamy at Nemali village in Gampalagudem mandal.

The public spat between Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) and Tiruvuru MLA Kolikapudi Srinivasa Rao marred the grand Kalyanotsavam at the famed Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple. The fight came to light on Tuesday and turned viral on social media and among political circles.

As per protocol, temple officials handed over the silk ‘pattu vastrams’ to the MP and the ‘talambraalu’ to the MLA for offering these to the deity.

Objecting to the arrangement, the MLA confronted officials, insisting that the silk robes be given to him. In a conciliatory gesture, the MP stepped aside, allowing the MLA to take the robes.

Tension escalated briefly when local party leaders attempted to intervene, leading to jostling between supporters.

The MP appealed for calm, reminding the party cadres that it was a sacred space, and he later watched the rituals from among common devotees.

The controversy did not end there. Back in Tiruvuru, NTR district YSRC president Devineni Avinash launched a scathing attack on the MP, alleging that the sanctity of the temple event was compromised. He demanded a public apology.

Avinash accused the MP of lacking decorum and dragging politics into religious affairs, while also criticising the state leadership for its silence.

MP Sivanath later maintained that he prayed for the prosperity and development of Nemali. He promised efforts to improve the facilities for devotees.

The three-day temple festivities concluded amid tight security, but the political aftershocks continue to reverberate across the district