Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

MLA, ex-MLA clash over roadwork Panchayat staff boycott duties

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI, MARCH 23. Tension prevailed in and around the panchayat office in Palamaner, 80 km from here on the Chittoor-Bangalore national highway following skirmishes between the local TDP MLA, Lalitha Kumari, and the former MLA, Thippeswami (Congress) over work on a cement road near the office.

Trouble began on Tuesday with the former MLA along with his followers allegedly obstructing the work under the plea that it did not have the panchayat resolution, while the MLA and sarpanch not shot down their argument as unfounded and insisted on the work proceeding even as police and supporters of the rival parties converged at the scene.

Official pulled up?

Tempers rose further following the alleged highhanded behaviour of Mr. Thippeswami in arguing with the secretary of the panchayat offfice, Sukanya Bai, for allowing the work to go on without a panchayat resolution. The official reportedly burst into tears amid assertions that his charge was baseless.

The panchayat office staff announced an indefinite boycott of their duties with immediate effect protesting against the former MLA's alleged outbursts against the secretary. The staff, sticking to their declaration stayed off duty on Wednesday and are not likely to attend on Thursday too, according to reports.

Police crackdown

Meanwhile, the TDP group led by Ms. Lalitha Kumari are furious over the Divisional Panchayat Officer `unilaterally' ordering the suspension of the roadwork until further orders in view of the controversy. The situation turned so tense by Tuesday evening that the police had to crack down on rival groups and chase them away to restore normalcy.

An uneasy calm hung around the office on Wednesday even as a police force remained deployed at the spot and in other vulnerable points also to prevent any backlash.

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