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Rebel was poised to win

Staff Reporter

Victim's supporters hurl slippers, broomsticks at Ponnala

UNDER FIRE: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah being gheraoed by family members and supporters of K. Ilaiah at Narasampet hospital mortuary in Warangal on Monday. Photo: M. Murali

GUDUR (WARANGAL DT): Kancha Ilaiah, the slain Congress rebel contesting for the ZPTC, commanded good support from the public and was poised to win the election with a huge margin.

Hundreds of people, irrespective of party affiliations, joined the funeral procession that began at Narasampet hospital mortuary and ended at his native village Gajulagattu, six km. away. He was described as a man of the poor and an upcoming leader.

Ilaiah's relatives and friends hurled slippers and brooms at Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah at the Narasampet hospital mortuary.

Ilaiah was caught in the political rivalry between Congress leaders Donthi Madhava Reddy and Konda Murali who were vying for a hold over Narasampet Assembly Constituency.

Image dented

As Madhava Reddy owes allegiance to Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, the latter's image is expected to be dented. None of the Congress leaders came to his rescue when he was gheraoed by Ilaiah's supporters. A follower of Konda Murali, Ilaiah was denied the ZPTC ticket, allegedly at the instance of Madhava Reddy and TRS MLA K. Laxma Reddy.

The Gudur ZPTC ticket was allotted to the TRS. However, Mr. Ilaiah filed his nomination as an independent.

Uneasy calm prevailed in Gajulagattu village, the native place of the deceased Congress leader. APCC President K. Keshava Rao visited the village and consoled family members of the slain Congress leader. He announced an ex gratia of Rs. 10 lakh to the family and declared that Mr. Madhava Reddy suspended from the party. Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police, M.S. Ravindra said it was a well-planned murder. Police had registered cases against 13 suspects and arrested three of them. Three special teams were formed to nab the others.

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