The Hindu : Front Page : Ticket row: Minister, MLAs gheraoed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Ticket row: Minister, MLAs gheraoed

Staff Reporter

Pendurthy legislator slapped by an irate Congress worker

UP IN ARMS: Congress workers protesting against denial of ticket in the municipal elections after burning an effigy of Ranga Raju, MLA, in Visakhapatnam on Friday. — Photo:K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: Angry Congress men peeved at the denial of ticket for contesting the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections gheraoed Congress MLAs from the city and Commercial Taxes Minister Konathala Ramakrishna at the airport here on their return from Hyderabad on Friday. In the protest at the airport, Pendurthy MLA T. Gurumuthy Reddy was slapped by an irate party worker.

The MLAs had a tough time pacifying the discontented and restive workers and managed to drive away from the airport amidst heavy security. Congress protests continued in the city with party men resorting to a rasta roko on the national highway near Gurudwara and burning an effigy of Visakhpatnam-II MLA S. Ranga Raju and staging a sit-in at his house. Supporters of an aspirant had burnt party flags and material near the area on Thursday night.

Tension had been mounting ever since the list of 60 candidates was released on Thursday in Hyderabad earmarking five wards to the CPI.

Protests particularly centred around Ward 5 that was allotted to CPI.

Mandal Congress president Potina Varam was an aspirant there. Mr. Gurumurthy Reddy and Visakhapatnam-I MLA Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao tried in vain to pacify them.

Mr. Konathala Ramakrishna who came by the flight intervened and settled the matter.

However, the row erupted again with party men gathering at the airport later.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page