Tension flares in Mancherial’s Kyathanpalli after midnight confrontation

Tension flared briefly in Kyathanpalli after a BRS candidate alleged cash distribution by Congress leaders. Police action and protests later added to poll-related unrest in Mancherial district.

Mancherial: Tension prevailed for a while when Congress leaders allegedly attempted to assault a BRS candidate in Kyathanpalli municipality late on Tuesday night.

BRS candidate Manda Venugopal, contesting from the 20th ward of the civic body, reached a location where leaders were allegedly distributing cash to induce voters. He questioned them over the alleged violation of the model code of conduct and found fault with the distribution of money to electors. He was carrying a list of voters purportedly prepared by the leaders.

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The leaders picked up an argument with Venugopal and allegedly tried to thrash him for confronting them. They were said to have abused him for disrupting their attempt to influence voters. However, they left the spot and maintained that they were not flouting the model code of conduct. They alleged that Venugopal had levelled baseless allegations against them.

In a separate incident, police drew criticism after seizing Rs. 34,000 from a car belonging to a BRS leader during inspections in Kyathanpalli town. Supporters staged a sit-in on the road opposing the police action, leading to mild tension. They claimed that the Congress was unable to digest the tendency of voters to cast their votes in favour of BRS and CPI candidates in the civic body.

Meanwhile, BRS district president Balka Suman slammed the police over the house arrest of former Zilla Parishad vice-chairperson Mula Raji Reddy. Taking to X, he accused the police of backing the ruling Congress party. He alleged that Congress leaders were threatening Opposition leaders and indulging in wrongdoing out of fear of defeat in the polls.