Tension flared in the Punganur assembly constituency of Tirupati as clashes broke out between TDP and YSRC activists during the visit of Rajampeta MP PV Mithun Reddy on Thursday. The unrest began when a large group of TDP activists gathered in Punganur to protest Reddy's visit to former Chittoor MP N Reddeppa's residence. This gathering prompted YSRC supporters to assemble in support of their MP.
Violence erupted when TDP activists attempted to storm Reddeppa's residence, hurling stones at YSRC supporters, who retaliated in kind. Amid the chaos, security personnel accompanying the MP fired two shots in self-defense as TDP activists continued their aggressive actions.
Tensions remained high in Punganur, leading local police to deploy additional forces and resort to a mild lathi charge to disperse the opposing groups.
YSRC MP PV Mithun Reddy condemned the incident, accusing the ruling TDP government of orchestrating attacks against him since assuming office a month ago. He expressed frustration over what he described as continuous violent assaults on YSRCP activists in Punganur, emphasizing his constitutional right to visit the constituency. Reddy criticized the police for their passive role, promising to bring these attacks to the attention of the Lok Sabha speaker.
The incident on Thursday follows previous events where YSRC leaders and workers were reportedly obstructed from reaching Mithun Reddy's residence on June 30, with barricades set up about 100 meters away. This incident sparked protests from YSRC supporters, who accused the TDP government of unjustly restricting the movements of their elected representative. Additionally, there were allegations that Telugu Desam Party workers had previously prevented a visit by Reddy's father, former YSRC minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, to the same region.