How TDP and YSRCP’s battle for political dominance is scalding an entire region in Andhra

Violence erupted in the Palnadu region, notorious for factional feuds, on Friday night. Several houses and vehicles were damaged.

BySNV Sudhir

Published Dec 17, 2022 | 8:41 PMUpdatedDec 18, 2022 | 8:37 AM

burning vehicle

Police pickets are back in Andhra Pradesh’s Palnadu region once again after supporters of the TDP and YSRCP clashed with each other on Friday, 16 December.

The region, notorious for political feuds, has been remaining calm until the TDP’s Idhem Kharma Mana Rashtraniki, a mass-contact campaign rally, reached Vaddera Colony in Macherla town.

The villagers prevented the rally from entering their village, saying they were benefiting from the YSRCP government’s welfare schemes. Another version said the TDP workers provoked their political rivals.

With the embers of vendetta politics still smouldering under the uneasy calm, the incident soon went out of hand as TDP workers attacked the YSRCP activists. Hugely outnumbered, several YSRCP men and a few local leaders were injured in the incident.

As the news spread, YSRCP cadre gathered in strength within an hour. They went on a rampage, torching houses and vehicles of TDP workers. The TDP office in Macherla town, too, was set ablaze.

The police brought in additional forces from other places to Macherla to bring the situation under control. Prohibitory orders under 144 CrPC, too, were imposed on Macherla town.

Battle for dominance 

With the Congress’s strength waning, the TDP and YSRCP have been vying for total control over the Palnadu region. The YSRCP has emerged as the dominant force over the past few years, eating into the TDP’s traditional vote base. Both parties are now fighting for dominance in Macherla, Piduguralla, and Gurazala areas.

Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu visited YSRCP workers injured in the clashes. (Supplied)

Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu visited YSRCP workers injured in the clashes. (Supplied)

In the 2019 polls, YSRCP captured all seven assembly segments and the lone Lok Sabha seat in the region, establishing its clear dominance.

The TDP is now trying to make inroads into YSRCP strongholds ahead of the 2024 elections.

Palnadu comprises Chilakaluripeta, Gurazala, Vinukonda, Sattenapalle, Narasaraopeta, Macherla and Pedakurapadu assembly segments. Except for Chikaluripeta and Pedakurapadu, the remaining segments are known for political violence.

Incidentally, it is also said that factional leaders align themselves with either of the major political parties for protection.

The region has witnessed frequent clashes over the past three years. TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu had even staged a protest, seeking protection for his party workers.

“Are the opposition parties not eligible to stage protests,” TDP state unit president K Atchen Naidu asked after the Friday’s incidents.

“Local MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy’s brother Venkatrami Reddy was present when the YSRCP activists damaged the local TDP office and five cars of our party leaders,” he added. The TDP leader said shops owned by his party supporters, too, were torched. He accused the local police of inaction.

Palnadu district was carved out of Guntur, with Narasaraopeta as its headquarters.

The Pinnelli factor

The influential Pinnelli family has been holding the Macherla assembly segment since 2004. Laxma Reddy won Macherla in 2004, and from 2009 onwards, his relative Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy has been representing the constituency in the state Assembly.

Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy

YSRCP Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy (Facebook)

To effectively counter Ramakrishna Reddy and to gain dominance in Macherla, Chandrababu Naidu put Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy in charge of the party’s organisational affairs in the Assembly segment one-and-a-half years ago.

The Julakanti family is another prominent one in the region.

Meanwhile, the recent cabinet reshuffle disappointed Ramakrishna Reddy. Being a Macherla strongman, he expected a Cabinet berth but was denied one.

Jagan placated Ramakrishna Reddy and assured him a berth after the party retained power in the 2024 polls.

“The Julakanti family could win Macherla only once in 1999. Thereafter Brahmananda Reddy kept losing to Ramakrishna Reddy. Naidu fielded another candidate in the 2019 polls, which miffed Brahmananda Reddy. He had been staying away from the party activities,” a senior YSRCP leader from Palnadu told South First.

Julakanti Brahmanada Reddy

TDP Macherla in charge Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy .(Facebook)

“The TDP’s disastrous show in 2019 made Naidu realise the importance of Brahmananda Reddy. The TDP supremo wants to end Ramakrishna Reddy’s dominance in Palnadu at any cost, and hence he brought Brahmananda Reddy back,” he said.

Both Brahmananda Reddy and Ramakrishna Reddy have old political scores to settle.

“To prove a point and make his presence felt, Brahmananda Reddy has been conducting several provocative programmes in Macherla for some time, and it reached a tipping point on Friday night,” the leader added.

DGP orders inquiry

Meanwhile, DGP KV Rajendranath Reddy ordered a thorough investigation into Friday’s violence. He also deputed Guntur range DIG D Trivikram Varma to Macherla to head the probe and also to maintain peace.

“Additional forces have been sent to Macherla. We will not spare anti-social elements trying to disturb law and order. The town is now peaceful,” the state police chief said.

A few TDP leaders tried to reach Macherla to take part in a party-sponsored bandh on Saturday, 17 December. The police detained them at Guntur and on Macherla’s outskirts.

“The TDP wants to eliminate Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and his brother Venkatram Reddy for political reasons. The TDP is spewing venom and creating law and order issues across the state under the cover of Idhem Kharma,” Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu said after visiting the injured YSRCP workers in Guntur.

Incidentally, the feuds of Palnadu have caught the fancy of Tollywood. Macherla Niyojakavargam, a movie with a mix of politics and factional fights, was released a month ago. Prabhas‘s blockbuster movie Mirchi also referred to Palnadu factionalism.