ELURU: Yet again, Denduluru TDP MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar hit the headlines for all wrong reasons. In the latest episode, Chintamaneni allegedly slapped his own party leader and drew the ire of Chief Minister and Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu.
On Friday night, Chintamaneni and his men allegedly roughed up Pamarthi Pedda Ranga Rao, former president of Kokkirapadu village in Pedapadu mandal of West Godavari district. Ranga Rao who hails from Gouda community, is also a TDP activist. The incident took place at Dasarivari Gudem, a hamlet in Kokkirapadu panchayat, during Grama Darshini programme.
The MLA who attended the meeting, came to know that the former president recommended the name of a youth for loan under the self-employment scheme. Losing his cool over not being informed of the matter, he allegedly slapped Ranga Rao.
Taken aback over the humiliation at the hands of Chintamaneni, Ranga Rao returned home at Vempadu hamlet. When villagers asked him as to why he returned in the middle of the meeting and why he was depressed, Ranga Rao told them about the incident. Furious over the highhandedness of the MLA, the villagers tore the TDP flags and flexes.
While Chintamaneni was leaving the village after the end of the meeting, the villagers mobbed him, demanding an apology for his highhandedness. With the situation slowly going out of control, police rushed to the spot and tried to take away the MLA from the place.
But the villagers prevented them demanding an apology from the TDP MLA. Finally, Chintamaneni apologised to Ranga Rao and left the village. It was the second time within one week, the MLA and his men were in news for their ‘rowdyism’. They were accused of thrashing a YSRC leader a couple of days ago when he complained to police against the illegal sand mining by the MLA.
Having learnt about the incident on Saturday, Naidu pulled up Chintamaneni and said his highhanded behaviour was bringing disrepute to the TDP. The Chief Minister warned him of serious action if any such incident recurs.
Meanwhile, Gouda community members of Kokkirapadu, led by YSRC leader Ashok Goud, organised a meeting in the village, which was attended by Ranga Rao. The meeting condemned the highhanded behaviour of the MLA. They resolved not to support the MLA henceforth. However, the members of the community, including Ranga Rao, who are in the TDP, are yet to resign from the party against the incident in protest.