Jubilee Hills bypoll: Congress factions clash in Rahmathnagar during campaign

A clash between rival Congress factions in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills constituency disrupted electioneering efforts on Tuesday. Supporters of corporators CN Reddy and Bhavani Shankar engaged in a heated argument that escalated into a physical altercation.

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Rahmathnagar in the Jubilee Hills constituency on Tuesday when Congress leaders clashed among themselves during electioneering in the area.

Supporters of corporator CN Reddy, who had aspired to contest the by-election, and former corporator Bhavani Shankar exchanged abuses and slogans against each other. The clash reportedly erupted due to internal differences and a lack of active participation in campaigning for the party’s candidate, Naveen Yadav.

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Led by Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy, both Reddy and Bhavani Shankar, along with their supporters, had gathered for lunch at a party leader’s residence in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, SPR Hills.

However, supporters of Bhavani Shankar and Nagesh Nayak accused C N Reddy’s group of not actively participating in the campaign. Reacting sharply, Reddy’s supporters questioned their rivals’ commitment to the party.

The heated exchange soon turned into a physical altercation that lasted for nearly 20 minutes. Videos of the two groups hurling abuses and engaging in scuffles went viral on social media. Despite repeated appeals from senior leaders for restraint, the warring groups refused to back down initially.

It took considerable effort from senior Congress leaders to finally bring the situation under control.