YSRCP sheltering anti-Dalit leaders: TDP

“The anti-Dalit policy and anti-Dalit behaviour of YSRCP is yet again exposed today with just their candidates’ selection, wherein, it is very clear that they are giving shelter to anti-Dalit leaders,” said Jyoshna in a statement.

Also Read: YSRCP MLC Thota Trimurthulu sentenced for atrocity against Dalits, let off on bail

‘YSRCP is Dalit-drohi’

The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP gave the Mandapeta assembly constituency ticket to Trimurthulu, prompting Jyoshna to allege that the party is anti-Dalit for selecting candidates with a notorious history of crime against the downtrodden sections.

She asserted that Trimurthulu filed 148 petitions to evade punishment over the years.

Calling the YSRCP a Dalit-drohi (Dalit backstabbing) party, she reminded that another ruling party MLC, Anantha Udaya Bhaskar (Anantha Babu), was also accused of murdering his Dalit driver V Subramanyam.

Jyoshna alleged that the past five years under YSRCP had seen “continuous attacks on Dalits”.

Meanwhile, senior TDP leader KS Jawahar demanded that Reddy should expel Trimurthulu from YSRCP and revoke his membership immediately if the latter genuinely upholds the Constitution and honours the principles of its architect BR Ambedkar.

“If not, Jagan Reddy’s lack of action will be considered as his permission for such actions, granting them a license,” said Jawahar.

Elections for the 175-member Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on 13 May and the counting of votes will be held on 4 June.

Case against Trimurthulu

The charge against Trimurthulu and others was that they had the heads of Koti Chinna Raju and Dandala Venkataratnam, tonsured.

The victims were daily-wage labourers in the state electricity department at that time. The legislators’ supporters allegedly manhandled three others as well.

Witnesses testified that the attack took place since the assailants bore a grudge against the Dalits for working for the poll agents of the BSP candidate for the election for the Ramachandrapuram Assembly seat in 1994.

Trrimurthulu was an independent candidate and he won the election. Witnesses said that the Dalit youths, working for the BSP candidates’ agents, had tried to stop Trimurthulu’s supporters from rigging the polls.

The police registered a case, but not before the Dalit organisations raised a hue and cry. They then arrested Trimuruthlu and nine others and sent them to the central prison in Rajahmundry. They were later granted bail.

Also Read: EC directs AP police to expedite probe into attack on Jagan Reddy

Political career of Trimurthulu

Trimurthulu is a powerful Kapu leader in the Ramachandrapuram Assembly segment. After winning as an independent in 1994, he joined the TDP and won the election again in 1999.

When Chiranjeevi floated his Praja Rajyam Party, he left the TDP and joined the actor’s outfit but lost the election in 2009.

Later, after the Praja Rajyam merged with the Congress, he became a Congress leader. He was elected an MLA in a by-election in 2012 but he returned to the TDP in 2014 and won the election.

In the 2019 elections, he contested on a TDP ticket but lost to YSRCP nominee Ch Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna, now the BC welfare minister.

Later Trimurthulu joined the YSRCP and acted as in-charge for Mandapet. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, realising the influence he wielded as a Kapu leader, sent him to the legislative council.

(With PTI inputs)