An incident of intense political friction has unfolded in Andhra Pradesh, specifically during the election for the Thiruvarur Municipal Chairperson. Reports indicate that leaders and activists of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) created a volatile situation, directly confronting and obstructing leaders of the YSR Congress Party (YCP), even in the presence of police personnel.
The heightened tensions culminated in a direct confrontation at the Bada Tollgate. TDP leaders reportedly gathered there with the intent to block YCP leaders Devineni Avinash and Nallakatala Swamidas, and Munditoka Arun Kumar, who were en route to Thiruvarur for the municipal chairperson election proceedings. The previous day had seen a hunger strike organized by YCP leaders at the municipal office, adding to the already charged political atmosphere.
During the escalating confrontation at the tollgate, TDP leaders and activists aggressively attacked the vehicles of Devineni Avinash and Arun Kumar. Eyewitness accounts and viral social media videos show car mirrors being destroyed during the violent outburst. This incident has drawn sharp condemnation from YCP leaders, who have publicly questioned the role of the police, asking, “If in power, can [they] do anything? What are the police doing if the TDP leaders are doing so?”
The YCP leaders are particularly incensed, viewing the actions of the TDP as a deliberate conspiracy to disrupt the municipal election process. The viral footage serves as compelling evidence of the clash, further intensifying the political rhetoric between the two major parties in Andhra Pradesh. The incident highlights the deep-seated rivalry and the fraught political climate dominating the state’s local body elections.