Continuing its alleged crackdown on YSR Congress Party leaders, the Chandrababu Naidu government on Monday ordered the arrest of several YSRCP leaders, triggering a political storm in the Rayalaseema region.
Those taken into custody included former Uravakonda MLA Y. Visweswara Reddy and former Hindupur MP Gorantla Madhav.
The arrests came a day after police detained Alur MLA Virupakshi in Kurnool district during a late-night operation, further intensifying the political atmosphere in the region.
In the Uravakonda Assembly constituency of Anantapur district, the ruling Telugu Desam Party, the opposition YSRCP and the Bharatiya Janata Party had announced separate protest programmes over different issues, raising concerns about law and order.
Visweswara Reddy had called for a protest alleging that large-scale land encroachments were taking place under the leadership of Minister Payyavula Keshav. The demonstration was planned outside the Uravakonda Tahsildar’s office.
However, the police denied permission for the protest, citing security concerns.
Despite the denial, Visweswara Reddy and other YSRCP leaders decided to proceed with the dharna, prompting the police to take preventive action.
At the same time, the TDP announced its own protest, accusing the previous YSRCP government, which was in power between 2019 and 2024, of attacking members of the Backward Classes and being involved in illegal land dealings.
Adding to the political confrontation, the BJP extended support to an agitation launched by the Temple Protection Committee. The committee alleged that YSRCP leaders had encroached upon land belonging to the Panduranga Swamy Temple at Janardanapalli village in Vidapanakal mandal.
With all three political parties mobilising their supporters simultaneously, the police imposed prohibitory orders under the Police Act across the Guntakal Police Sub-Division to prevent any breach of peace.
Circle Inspector Mahanandi said permission had been denied for all the proposed demonstrations near the Uravakonda Tahsildar’s office in view of the prevailing law-and-order situation.
As a preventive measure, the police arrested Visweswara Reddy from the YSRCP office in Uravakonda before he could lead the protest.
The arrest led to heated arguments between YSRCP activists and police personnel. Officers eventually took Visweswara Reddy into custody and shifted him from the premises.
The police also detained BC Cell State Working President Ramesh Goud, who had arrived to express solidarity with Visweswara Reddy.
Former MP Gorantla Madhav, who was on his way to participate in the YSRCP protest, was also taken into preventive custody. The police reportedly removed him from a private residence and escorted him into a police vehicle.
Meanwhile, former minister Shankar Narayana was placed under house arrest in Penukonda to prevent him from joining the protest programmes.
The arrests and restrictions have further sharpened the political confrontation between the ruling alliance and the opposition in Rayalaseema, with both sides accusing each other of misusing the administration for political purposes.
