Tension prevailed in Tirupati on Monday after Telugu Desam Party workers belonging to rival factions clashed during a meeting organised to gather feedback on the appointment of constituency in-charges for the Punganur and Tamballapalle Assembly segments.
The confrontation escalated into pushing, fistfights and physical assaults, leaving several party workers with bleeding injuries.
The incident occurred as the TDP leadership stepped up efforts to strengthen the party in the 11 Assembly constituencies won by the YSR Congress Party in the 2024 elections.
Among them are Punganur and Tamballapalle, represented by former minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy and his brother Peddireddi Dwarakanath Reddy, who retained their seats despite the NDA alliance wave in the state.
As part of its strategy to strengthen the party in these constituencies ahead of the next Assembly elections, the TDP has begun consultations on changing the local leadership.
Ministers B C Janardhan Reddy and Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy met party workers at the Grand Bridge Hotel in Tirupati to gather their views on the appointment of constituency in-charges for Tamballapalle and Punganur.
Trouble first erupted during the morning session, which focused on selecting a new in-charge for Tamballapalle. Former constituency in-charge Jayachandra Reddy had earlier been suspended by the TDP following allegations linked to the liquor scam.
A section of party workers has been demanding that Shankar Yadav be appointed as the new Tamballapalle in-charge. Jayachandra Reddy alleged that only a limited number of his supporters were allowed into the consultation meeting. Following his appeal, a large number of his supporters gathered outside the hotel.
Later in the afternoon, the consultation shifted to the selection of the Punganur constituency in-charge. While one faction demanded a change in leadership, another insisted that the current in-charge, Challa Babu, should continue.
The differences soon led to heated arguments, which escalated into physical clashes involving pushing and punching. Several workers suffered bleeding injuries in the violence.
The incident assumed significance as the clashes took place in the presence of Janardhan Reddy and Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, who reportedly struggled to pacify the rival groups.
The altercation has exposed factional differences within the TDP as the party prepares to reorganise its leadership in key constituencies ahead of future elections.
