Published Jul 08, 2026 | 3:48 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 08, 2026 | 3:48 PM
Congress infighting turns violent in Telangana's Suryapet district. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: Madhukar Reddy was recently appointed as one of the mandal party presidents. Yogananda Charyulu and his supporters objected to Madhukar Reddy’s appointment and organised a “Chalo Gandhi Bhavan” march, intending to travel to the party’s state headquarters in Hyderabad to register their protest. However, as their convoy approached the Arvapally crossroads, they were intercepted by supporters loyal to Reddy and MLA Samuel.
Political tension within the Congress party turned violent in Telangana’s Suryapet district on Wednesday, 8 July, as rival factions clashed at Arvapally crossroads in the Tungaturthi constituency, prompting police to resort to a lathi charge to restore order.
The confrontation stemmed from discontent over the recent appointment of Congress Mandal party presidents across the constituency.
Madhu, Sub-Inspector of Police, Aravapally, told South First that the clashes occurred between factions of D Yoganand Charyulu and Madhukar Reddy.
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Yoganand Charyulu is a High Court advocate and the vice president of Suryapet District Congress Committee. He was a close aide of former Member of Parliament for Nalgonda, Ramreddy Damodar Reddy, and now works closely with the current MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Madhukar Reddy is also a prominent figure in the Tungaturthi constituency and is affiliated with MLA Mandula Samuel. He was recently appointed as one of the mandal party presidents.
Yogananda Charyulu and his supporters objected to Madhukar Reddy’s appointment and organised a “Chalo Gandhi Bhavan” march, intending to travel to the party’s state headquarters in Hyderabad to register their protest. However, as their convoy approached the Arvapally crossroads, they were intercepted by supporters loyal to Reddy and MLA Samuel.
What began as a standoff quickly escalated. Police who rushed to the spot initially managed to disperse the crowd, but then had to resort to a lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.
SI Madhu said, “Both groups pelted stones and attacked with sticks. They smashed the windows of each other’s vehicles. They all dispersed after the lathi charge. We are now filing cases against the miscreants.”
SI Madhu added that the situation in the district has always been volatile. “I was posted here recently but heard from my colleagues that this is a common occurrence here,” he added.
The episode in Suryapet is the latest in a series of internal rifts in the Congress party.
A conflict between Minister Konda Surekha and MLA Kadiyam Sri Hari over the Yadadri temple issue escalated on Tuesday with the minister seeking disciplinary action against the MLA.
Komati Reddy Rajagopal Reddy, MLA from Munugode constituency, was also in the news recently for criticising the state Congress leaders. He skipped Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s public meeting in Nalgonda, alleging that the party is prioritising leaders who joined recently over those who have been working since the beginning.
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(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sreshta Ladegaam)
