ZP chief elections held amid protests, bedlam

ZP chief elections stalled in four districts
TDP legislator causes a row in Nellore
TDP-YSRCP members clash in Prakasam
High Court stays poll in Khammam
Ranga Reddy poll put off due to lack of quorum

Hyderabad: The Zilla Parishad Chairman’s elections in Nellore and Prakasam districts did not take place on Saturday because of a row created by a TDP legislator. While the process in Khammam ZP was stayed by an AP High Court ruling, lack of quorum led to postponement in Ranga Reddy district.

Because of the row in Nellore, Collector M Srikanth announced that the election was being put off. Earlier, there were serious arguments among members at the ZP hall. Several MLAs, Nellore MP and ZP members nearly came to blows, as a dispute arose when YSRCP ZTPCs were seen moving towards TDP benches.

The TDP members who came late to the meeting, which commenced at 1 pm, expressed anger at the presiding officer administering the oath earlier to YSRCP members. Venkatagiri MLA Kurugondla Ramakrishna wrenched the mike and threw it in the air, triggering a din which lasted almost for four hours. A case was registered against him at One Town police station. He also tore off the copies of the proceedings and staged a sit-in near the podium. Other Desam MLAs Srinivasula Reddy, B Rama Rao joined him in the protest. This forced the Collector to leave the hall, prompting YSRCP members to demonstrate, accusing Ramakrishna of resorting to violence.

The TDP-YSRCP arguments reached a peak with the latter accusing the ruling party of snatching its six members and the rivals charged at each other menacingly. This led to a pandemonium.

The YSRCP members staged a protest, demanding protection. The Collector’s announcement was loudly cheered by the TDP members. Nellore MP M Rajamohan Reddy said that it was a “murder of democracy.”

Prakasam Collector Vijay Kumar was forced to put off the election as several TD activists, led by senior leader Karnam Balramkrishna Murthy and his son Venkatesh, forcibly entered the hall and raised slogans, alleging that the party Damacharla MLA Janardhan was ‘assaulted’ by Addanki legislator Ravikumar of YSRCP. SP Pramod Kumar wielding his lathi at the activists only added fuel to the fire. A clash broke out between police and the TDP activists, warranting a lathi-charge. Loud shouting by the TDP and YSRCP members, and exchange of blows between MLAs and MPs of the two parties marked the stormy meeting.

The TDP, with 25 members, succeeded in its game plan of foiling the YRSCP bid to gain control of ZP, by having strength of 31 ZPTCs. Three YSRCP members defected to TDP. Their sitting in the TDP provoked strong protests from YSRCP, leading to a bedlam.

Amid tension, Mallela Rajasekar (TDP) was elected as Kurnool ZP chairman and Pushavathi as vice-chairperson. YSRCP legislators, led by Bhuma Nagi Reddy, raised slogans against the Collector. The strength of TDP which won 20 ZPTCs increased with defection of eight YSRCP, two Congress and one RPS members joining its ranks. Legislators S V Mohan Reddy and Ijaiah were bodily lifted by the police out of the meeting hall.

The ZP chief election in East Godavari district was marked by protests by the supporters of P Rajasekhar and N Rambabu. With Rambabu getting the green signal, Rajasekhar’s followers raised slogans against Minister China Rajappa. They accused the party of changing its stand on Rajasekhar. In Mahabubnagar, Congress ZPTC members accused the TRS of snatching their colleagues for bagging the chairman’s chair.

In Khammam, the election was stayed after the AP High Court issued orders last month following a petition filed by the newly-elected Burgampadu ZPTC Gandhi and Burgampadu-2 MPTC Rosi Reddy. They filed the petition in the wake of a controversy over an ordinance merging seven mandals in the Seemandhra region. Ranga Reddy district officials said the ZP chief’s election was put off as there was no quorum. The Collector informed the State Election Commission, which would announce fresh poll dates.