Tension prevailed for some time in Lingala mandal of the Kadapa district on Saturday after the convoy of Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu was pelted with stones when he stopped to campaign for party candidate for the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, MV Mysoora Reddy.
According to information coming in, irate residents of Kommunutala village pelted Mr Naidu’s convoy with stones, leading to retaliation by the TDP activists. The situation was brought under control by the police who lathi-charged the two irate parties. As many as 20 persons were taken into custody.
Reports suggest that the village is considered a stronghold of YSR Congress and the villagers were against the TDP chief’s campaign. Party politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, MP Nama Nageshwar Rao, former minister Devender Goud condemned the attack and blamed the YSR Congress Party for the attack on the TDP chief.
The TDP leaders stated that YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy was now revealing his ‘goodaism’ and exhorting his followers to attack the TDP leaders. “This is because Mr Jaganmohan Reddy is afraid of being defeated in the by-elections,” the TDP leaders said. They also termed the attack on Mr Naidu’s convoy as a failure of the police to maintain law and order.