Tension at Kukunoor

YSRCP, TDP workers clash

Khammam: Tense situation prevailed at Kukunoor on Thursday following a clash between workers of TDP and YSRCP.

After the merger of seven mandals of Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh, West Godavari district Collector Katamneni Bhaskar conducted a tour of two of the newly merged mandals Velerupadu and Kukunoor. Officials from Andhra Pradesh and Eluru MP Maganti Babu also accompanied the Collector.

The Collector and Eluru MP held a review meeting with the officials of Velerupadu and Kukunoor mandals at Kukunoor MRO office. Aswaraopeta YSRCP MLA Thati Venkateswarlu reached the place and expressed anger against the officials for failing to give him prior information on the meeting.

He raised ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans. The local villagers supported him and they also raised Jai Telangana slogans.

A scuffle ensued between the protesters and the followers of Maganti Babu. Subsequently, there was a verbal duel between Thati Venkateswarlu and Maganti Babu. Alleging that the MP’s followers had pushed the supporters of Venkateswarlu, the YSRCP workers staged a dharna.

Venkateswarlu found fault with the officials for failing to inform him about the meeting which was taking place in the villages which fell under his Assembly constituency. He alleged that the officials insulted him as he belonged to tribal community.

Following the clash between the TDP and YSRCP workers, the meeting at Kukunoor MRO office ended abruptly.

MLA Venkateswarlu also staged a dharna on the road in protest against the attitude of the officials and the followers of Eluru MP. Later, the police arrested Thati Venkateswarlu to bring the situation under control.