Telangana: TRS minister, former MLA clash over turf, booked

HYDERABAD: Infighting among party leaders in Medchal-Malkajgiri district has become a major concern for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party. This is not only creating confusion among local leaders and workers but is also likely to have an impact in the upcoming GHMC polls.
Medchal district is crucial for the party as it has four municipal corporations, nine municipalities and part of the district comes under GHMC.
Minister M Malla Reddy and Medchal ex MLA Sudheer Reddy have had differences ever since the party denied ticket to Sudheer Reddy and fielded Malla Reddy from Medchal assembly constituency in 2018 elections. Malla Reddy later became a minister and the party accommodated Sudheer Reddy’s son Sharath Chandra Reddy as chairperson of zilla parishad of Medchal-Malkajgiri district. Both the leaders have tried to dominate each other in the municipal elections. Cases have been registered against both leaders.
The differences between the duo came to the fore once again on Thursday night when both groups clashed and pelted stones on each other. Some persons, allegedly supporters of Sudheer Reddy, attacked Malla Reddy’s close aide and Ghatkesar Mandal Praja Parishad (MPP) president Enugu Sudharshan Reddy at Pratapsingaram village when he was returning after attending an engagement programme. On the other hand, Sudheer Reddy’s supporters allege that a smear campaign was going on against their leader by the opponent group, which even went to the extent of spreading rumours that Sudheer Reddy tested positive for Covid.
Medipally police booked two separate cases against Ghatkesar MPP Y Sudarshan Reddy and Pratapa Singaram village sarpanch V Shiva Kumar after both the groups assaulted each other at an engagement ceremony in the village on Thursday. Based on the complaint lodged by Sudarshan Reddy alleging that other group attacked him, a case was registered against M Venkatram Reddy, V Shiva Shankar and 22 others under sections of IPC.
Similarly, based on the counter complaint filed by Shiva Shankar, Sarpanch of Pratapa Singaram, alleging that a function was held without following social distancing and when he intervened, the accused abused him by referring to his caste, a case was booked against Sudarshan and four others.