Punganur (Andhra Pradesh), October 16 The ruling TDP and opposition YSRCP traded charges of violence in this town in Annamayya district on Friday during the nomination filing process for the local body polls in Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, police claimed that a YSRCP MP’s convoy of vehicles drove through the people and injured policemen and others.
Visuals purportedly from the site of alleged violence show four SUVs overturned and their windowpanes smashed, while a few cars were seen to be burnt.
While YSRCP, in its press release, accused TDP workers of attacking the convoy vehicles of their party MP from Rajampet, PV Midhun Reddy, with stones, sticks and iron rods while he was accompanying party candidates and leaders to file nominations for the local body elections, police and ruling TDP deny the claim.
Madanapalli DSP B Prasad alleged that Rajampet MP PV Midhun Reddy “arrived in a convoy of more than 10 vehicles, mostly SUVs and drove through the area without stopping, creating a disturbance.
“It was not an attack on the MP (Reddy). He arrived in a convoy of more than 10 vehicles even before the nomination process, creating a disturbance. Several people, including police personnel, sustained injuries,” Prasad told PTI.
In a post on X, TDP also alleged, “In Punganur, MP Mithun Reddy and his followers attacked TDP leader Madhu Royal. They deliberately drove a vehicle into TDP candidates filing their nomination papers and police officers, creating chaos”.
“Evidence suggests that the thugs accompanying Midhun Reddy’s convoy were under the influence of alcohol and entered with a deliberate intent to assault,” TDP claimed.
Whereas the opposition YSRCP alleged that TDP workers blocked the convoy, attempted to prevent YSRCP candidates from reaching the nomination centre and vandalised vehicles belonging to its leaders.
A security guard accompanying Reddy was also injured and sustained a gash on his head, they claimed.
YSRCP also accused police personnel present at the scene of failing to stop the alleged attackers or protect the candidates.
Condemning the incident, the YSRCP demanded the State Election Commission to intervene, direct police to register criminal cases and arrest those responsible and take action against officers who allegedly failed to prevent the violence.
It also sought protection for candidates and their proposers, and arrangements to enable all affected candidates to file their nominations safely without obstruction.
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has notified elections to over 100 urban and rural local bodies recently.
(PTI News)
