Police open fire to disperse clashing groups

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, JULY 22. The police opened fire into the air to disperse clashing mobs of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress(I) in Pedakurapadu, as one of the MPTC members belonging to the TDP `slipped' towards the Congress. Election was put off in three mandals for want of quorum, while nobody filed nominations in Pittalavanipalem mandal. Of the remaining 53 mandals, the TDP candidates became presidents in 28, the Congress candidates in 24 and an independent made it in Durgi.

The TDP and the Congress were poised equally in this mandal with both parties winning six MPTC seats each in Pedakurapadu. When the election of the co-option members was taken up, the TDP candidates lost to the Congress. Following this, trouble broke out between the TDP and the Congress which led to throwing of stones at each other by both groups. The Congress camp managed to take away the Garapadu MPTC member to its side. This caused a commotion between the two groups.

Finally, both parties reportedly came to a `compromise' and `executed an agreement' that the TDP candidate would serve for the first two years and leave the remaining three years for the Congress. The Congress would have its vice-chairman and co-opted members in the first two years and leave the posts to the TDP for the remaining three years. According to the agreement, Mr. N.V.V.S. Prasad alias Nelakuditi Bujji of the TDP was elected president and the Congress candidate was made vice-president.

The election was put off in the mandals of Sathenapalli, Muppalla of Sathenapalli Assembly constituency, Pittalavanipalem of Bapatla Assembly constituency and Ipur of Vinukonda Assembly constituency following crossing of floors by the MPTC members belonging to both parties.

The role of an independent MPTC member, Mrs. Y. Atchemma, who was elected unopposed from Lankelakurapadu MPTC seat, has become controversial. Her joining hands with the Congress angered the TDP MLA, Mr. Y.V. Anjaneyulu, who staged a dharna on the Sathenapalli main road last evening. He charged the Congress with kidnapping Mrs. Atchemma who was basically a TDP candidate.

Meanwhile, the District Congress Committee president, Dr. Rayapati Srinivas, and others presented Mrs. Atchemma before the Additional Superintendent of Police, Mr. A.R. Srinivas. With the addition of Mrs. Atchemma, the strength of the Congress had gone up to 11. Considering their strength, the Congress decided to abstain for this day, as at least 50 per cent of the members of the mandal parishad alone would constitute a quorum. With abstention of the Congress members, the election was put off.

In Muppalla mandal parishad, the election was put off following the abstention of the TDP members as they could not come to an agreement on the selection of the presidential candidate.

The TDP won Vatticherukuru mandal president's posts and the Congress bagged Savalyapuram mandal presidency by draw of lots as both parties had equal number of MPTC members. The lone independent candidate in Vatticherukur, by joining hands with the TDP, neutralised the strength of the Congress. Thus, both groups had six MPTC members each leading to draw of lots. In Savalyapuram, both parties had five candidates each.

The lone independent candidate went with the Congress in Atchempet ensuring the victory of its president. The three Congress MPTC members and the four independent candidates put up an independent to the Durgi mandal presidency. In Medikonduru, the Congress MPTC member, Mr. P. Jaganmohan Rao, abstained from the meeting paving the way for the TDP candidate to win. In fact, the TDP and the Congress won seven seats each in this mandal.

The Congress candidate posted victory in the run up for the mandal president's job in Nizampatnam where the TDP had eight MPTC members, the Congress had seven and the CPI(M) had one. One TDP candidate reportedly `abstained' at the behest of the Kuchinapudi MLA, Mr. M.V. Ramana Rao, of the Congress. The TDP's district office lodged a complaint with the police that one of their woman MPTC members was taken away by the gunman of the MLA. However, the result of the presidential election was declared in this mandal in favour of the Congress.

The independents helped the TDP win Narasaraopet, Edlapadu, Tullur, Tadikonda, Bhattiprolu and Duggirala mandals. Similarly, the Congress won Atchempet with the help of independents. By winning 24 mandals, the Congress emerged a major force in the district.

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Section  : Southern States
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