An attempt by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to sway municipal councillors from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the Tuni municipality by-election for the vice-chairman post in Kakinada district has backfired once again.
For the fourth consecutive time, the election was postponed on Tuesday due to a lack of quorum. Out of 29 members, including co-opted members, only 10 TDP councillors attended, while YSRCP members abstained, following their party leadership’s efforts to prevent cross-voting.
Tensions ran high at the Tuni municipal office, as TDP members attempted to storm the residence of the municipal chairman, where YSRCP councillors had gathered.
With a large number of TDP supporters assembling, police were heavily deployed to maintain order.
TDP leaders accused former minister Dadisetti Raja of kidnapping YSRCP councillors and preventing them from voting. They claimed that most YSRCP councillors were ready to support TDP but were being forcibly detained.
Despite TDP’s insistence on holding the election, they alleged that YSRCP was deliberately delaying the process out of fear of losing. They questioned why YSRCP councillors were being relocated to undisclosed locations if the ruling party was confident of victory.
A total of 17 YSRCP councillors were expected to attend, but TDP alleged they were confined at the chairman’s residence to prevent them from voting.
In response, TDP supporters broke police barricades, attempting to reach the location where the councillors were allegedly being held.
TDP leaders confronted the police, demanding an explanation for YSRCP’s repeated efforts to shield councillors from voting. Anticipating further clashes, police blocked their movement.
Meanwhile, Dadisetti Raja called for a "Chalo Tuni" protest, prompting the police to impose restrictions.
Authorities denied permission for the gathering and enforced Section 163(2), prohibiting public meetings and assemblies of more than five people in the Tuni municipality area.
As a result, YSRCP leaders Kurasala Kanna Babu, Mudragada Padmanabha Reddy, and former MP Vanga Geetha were stopped by the police while traveling to Tuni with their supporters. They staged a dharna in protest.
The situation returned to normal after the election was postponed once again due to a lack of quorum.
