Tension prevailed in Kollupalle village of Ramakuppam mandal of Kuppam assembly constituency on Wednesday following an alleged clash between workers of YSR Congress Party and Telugu Desam Party. Several workers from both the sides and some policemen on duty were injured.
According to information, after entering Shantipuram mandal by road from Karnataka, TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu was on his way to Ramakuppam Mandal Headquarters to launch the “Badude Badudu” programme. Hours before Mr Naidu’s arrival in the constituency, some YSRCP workers had allegedly put up banners and flexes of their party on Mr Naidu’s route. Angered by this act of ruling party workers, TDP workers allegedly removed campaign material in Kollupalle village while Naidu’s convoy was passing.
This reportedly led to a clash between the two groups, which was followed by scuffles and stone-pelting. The injured include two sub-inspectors from Kuppam Rural and Palamaner circle. The TDP worker injured in the clash was taken to the district hospital. Police said it was not immediately known who started the trouble due to torrential rains in the area. Officials said the CCTV footage would be verified and on the basis of it cases would be registered.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Y. Risanth Reddy and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) N. Sudhakar Reddy reached Ramakuppam from Chittoor to monitor the situation.
Mr Sudhakar Reddy said that as per preliminary information, TDP workers had objected to the YSRCP banners on Mr Naidu’s route in Ramakuppam mandal. “It caused trouble when both the groups clashed. Presently the situation is under control and the situation has returned to normal.” Additional police forces from Chittoor and Palamaner were sent to sensitive areas of Kuppam assembly constituency.
Meanwhile, senior TDP leaders in Kuppam alleged that the trouble in Kollupalle village was created by the ruling party workers with a pre-planned strategy to file criminal cases against the opposition party workers with the support of the police jointly”. platform-managed”.