Internal rift erupts in Gajwel Congress; factions clash during ration card event

Factional tensions within Gajwel Congress erupted during a ration card distribution event, with supporters of Narsa Reddy and Srikanth Rao clashing in front of Minister Vivekanand. Police intervened to restore order as party infighting disrupted the official programme.

Siddipet: Internal differences within the Gajwel Congress came to the fore when rival factions clashed during a ration card distribution programme, even as Labour Minister Gaddam Vivekanand watched helplessly.

The incident occurred during an event organised by the district administration to distribute new ration cards. District Congress Committee (DCC) President Tumukunta Narsa Reddy and his party rival Bandaru Srikanth Rao were involved in a heated altercation.

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Tensions flared when Atma Committee Chairman Malla Reddy, a staunch follower of Srikanth Rao, attempted to walk onto the stage. He was stopped by Narsa Reddy’s supporters, who objected to his presence before the DCC president had been invited. When Malla Reddy stated he was simply following protocol, a verbal argument ensued between the two factions.

The exchange soon escalated into a scuffle, forcing the police to intervene and disperse both groups to allow the programme to continue. Though Minister Vivekanand attempted to pacify the rival leaders, neither side paid heed to his appeals. The meeting hall rang with slogans as supporters shouted over one another.

Narsa Reddy, who had unsuccessfully contested against former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao from Gajwel, and Srikanth Rao, who is aspiring to contest from the seat in the next elections, have been leading rival factions for several years. Their ongoing feud has repeatedly disrupted party unity in the constituency.