Congress infighting in Nalgonda turns violent, police resort to lathi charge

Congress infighting in Telangana intensified as supporters of Nalgonda MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Tungaturthy MLA Mandula Samuel clashed over mandal president appointments in Suryapet district. Police resorted to a lathi charge after tensions escalated, leaving several supporters and police personnel injured.

Nalgonda: A day after internal differences surfaced in the Warangal unit of the Congress, factionalism erupted in the Nalgonda unit on Wednesday, with supporters of MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Tungaturthy MLA Mandula Samuel clashing over appointments to mandal president posts.

Tension prevailed at Arvapally mandal headquarters in Suryapet district after supporters of the Bhongir MP and the Tungaturthy MLA engaged in heated arguments over the appointment of Congress mandal presidents.

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Supporters of the MP accused the MLA of taking unilateral decisions in selecting mandal presidents. They began a rally towards Gandhi Bhavan to lodge a complaint against the MLA. However, Samuel’s supporters stopped the procession, triggering a confrontation.

The two groups pelted stones at each other and attacked one another with sticks. Despite attempts by the police to defuse the situation, the violence escalated, forcing them to resort to a lathi charge at Bajireddygudem.

According to reports, several supporters of the MP and a few police personnel sustained injuries. Two police vehicles were also damaged during the clashes. Later, Kiran Kumar Reddy’s supporters reached Gandhi Bhavan and raised slogans against Mandula Samuel.

Former TPCC vice-president Yogananda Chary charged that Congress workers had worked hard to ensure Samuel’s victory but claimed that the MLA was encouraging a “ganja batch” to attack genuine party workers. He also alleged that people with no connection to the Congress were being given party posts. All such appointments should be cancelled and strict action should be taken against Samuel, he demanded.