Is a section of the ruling TRS in Telangana out to edge out senior leader, party loyalist and former MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy? It appears so. On Friday, a petty dispute over the unveiling of the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Mallemadugu village of Pinapaka assembly constituency led to a massive fight injuring several workers belonging to Ponguleti's faction.
Former MP Ponguleti was to inaugurate the statue along with prominent leader of the party Pidamarthi Ravi. But the supporters of sitting MLA Regulapati Kantha Rao descended in large numbers to prevent the former MP from inaugurating the statue. This led to fisticuffs between the TRS workers owing allegiance to the rival leaders.
What was surprising was that the police openly sided with Regulapati Kantha Rao and helped the MLA's supporters in attacking the former MP's men. Several persons were injured in the melee and they were shifted to the nearby hospitals for treatment. Even SC Corporation chairperson Pidamarthi Ravi suffered minor injuries in the incident. Regulapati Kantha Rao, who won on the Congress ticket, has later joined the TRS, while Ponguleti joined the party in 2014 after he had won on the YSRCP ticket.
However, Ponguleti was denied the party ticket in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and has been without any position of power since then. He has been sulking at the party ignoring him. He has also sent feelers that he would join the BJP. Though the party leadership, including KTR, cajoled him, they did not offer him any position of consequence.
Former MP Ponguleti was to inaugurate the statue along with prominent leader of the party Pidamarthi Ravi. But the supporters of sitting MLA Regulapati Kantha Rao descended in large numbers to prevent the former MP from inaugurating the statue. This led to fisticuffs between the TRS workers owing allegiance to the rival leaders.
What was surprising was that the police openly sided with Regulapati Kantha Rao and helped the MLA's supporters in attacking the former MP's men. Several persons were injured in the melee and they were shifted to the nearby hospitals for treatment. Even SC Corporation chairperson Pidamarthi Ravi suffered minor injuries in the incident. Regulapati Kantha Rao, who won on the Congress ticket, has later joined the TRS, while Ponguleti joined the party in 2014 after he had won on the YSRCP ticket.
However, Ponguleti was denied the party ticket in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and has been without any position of power since then. He has been sulking at the party ignoring him. He has also sent feelers that he would join the BJP. Though the party leadership, including KTR, cajoled him, they did not offer him any position of consequence.