YSRCP, TDP workers clash in Kuppam during Naidu’s visit to his constituency

The TDP workers retaliated, leading to clashes between the two groups. The police resorted to the lathi charge to disperse the warring mobs. The TDP workers, too, tried to lay siege to the house of YSRC in charge K R J Bharath and the police used force to disperse them

Clashes broke out between activists of the ruling YSR Congress party (YSRCP) and opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Kuppam town of Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district during the visit of the latter party’s president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday.

TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu staged a sit-in on the road to register his protest against the YSRCP activists’ attack on Anna Canteen in Kuppam town of Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district. (HT Photo)

Naidu has been representing the Kuppam assembly constituency for the last seven consecutive terms.

The YSRCP, led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, which had swept 90 per cent of the local bodies, besides the Kuppam municipality last year, is going all out to conquer the assembly elections in 2024 by defeating Naidu.

Against this backdrop, the TDP president, who has been touring the constituency for the last two days, witnessed stiff resistance from the YSRC leaders and cadre. On Thursday, the YSRC gave a bandh call in Kuppam and vowed to stall the visit of Naidu to the town.

While educational institutions remained closed, shops and establishments were forced to down their shutters. The state-run transport corporation buses were also off the roads and confined to the depots.

They also attacked the Anna Canteen, an eatery to supply subsidised food to the poor people, to be inaugurated by Naidu on behalf of the TDP. YSRC cadre ransacked the canteen and damaged the furniture and glass panes, officials added.

The TDP workers retaliated, leading to clashes between the two groups. The police resorted to the lathi charge to disperse the warring mobs. The TDP workers, too, tried to lay siege to the house of YSRC in charge K R J Bharath and the police used force to disperse them.

Naidu, who walked down to the Anna Canteen, staged a sit-in on the road to register his protest against the YSRC vandalism. He alleged that the YSRC was creating a law and order situation in Kuppam, which had always remained peaceful in the last four decades.

“It’s a black day in the history of the Kuppam. The town has never witnessed such vandalism and violence in the past. The YSRCP leadership has been instigating violence to scare the TDP. But we won’t succumb to such pressures,” he said.

As the situation returned to normalcy, the TDP workers cleaned the Anna Canteen, which was inaugurated by Naidu. He served food to a few people at the canteen.

TDP state president Kinjarapu Atchannaidu also led protests in front of the office of Director General of Police, K V Rajendranath Reddy, at Mangalagiri, along with several party workers.

The Kuppam police registered cases against eight TDP leaders for instigating violent clashes under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, criminal intimidation, assaulting police officials on duty etc. Another 11 TDP workers were booked under the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act, a statement from Chittoor police said.

Senior YSRCP leader and advisor to government (public affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy alleged that it was the TDP workers who had first resorted to attack on YSRCP workers, pulling down the YSRCP banners, flags and flex boards. “They did everything in a pre-planned manner and are now trying to blame the YSRCP. Naidu has resorted to high drama to gain public sympathy as he realised that he is going to lose the seat in the next elections,” Reddy said.