Tension prevailed in the Kuppam of Chittoor district on Wednesday after the police denied permission for a roadshow by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N Chandrababu Naidu. The police rejected permission after the state government issued an order prohibiting public meetings on roads.
Police stopped and sent back TDP supporters as they were heading to Santhipuram in Kuppam, the home constituency of the former chief minister in the Chittoor district. The police also shifted the campaign vehicle and the other vehicle carrying the sound system to the police station.
As restrictions were placed on Chandrababu Naidu’s visit, hundreds of police officers were mobilised. This came a day after the state government issued an order prohibiting public meetings on roads.
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The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government took the step in the wake of the December 28 stampede at Kandukur during Naidu’s roadshow, which claimed eight lives.
Naidu, who is the leader of the opposition, decided to go ahead with his visit to Kuppam. Police stopped TDP workers who were heading to Pedduru village on the Andhra-Karnataka border to welcome the party leader. This led to an argument between both sides.
Police erected barricades to prevent TDP workers from entering the village or attending the roadshow.
Though the TDP supremo is likely to reach Pedduru village from Bengaluru in another couple of hours, heavy police deployment has been made in all the villages to which he is scheduled to visit.
The police also removed the stage set up at Kenamakulapalli village for Chandrababu Naidu to address the gathering as part of the Rachabanda program.
Policemen from various parts of the district were mobilised at Santhipuram. TDP leaders said that though they had already submitted a letter seeking permission for the sound system, police shifted the campaign vehicle and another vehicle carrying the sound system to the police station. The drivers and other staff members were taken into custody.
(With IANS inputs)
