A plantation programme launched by the Hyderabad Metro Rail Corporation at LB Nagar here on Saturday turned out to be a venue for a Congress MLA and the party local leader to settle old scores.
While the legislator allegedly manhandled the local leader, the latter’s supporters reportedly hurled footwear at the MLA and his associates even as MP Sarve Satyanarayana watched helplessly.
The fracas broke out in the middle of the LB Nagar road in full view of the public and officials.
Trouble broke when area market committee chairman Ram Mohan Goud was invited to plant a sapling ahead of local MLA Sudheer Reddy.
The legislators’ followers, who were said to have earlier passed remarks that Goud had attended the function as an uninvited guest, grew furious with this unexpected development and entered into a verbal duel with Goud and his aides.
As tempers ran high, the MLA got physical and had reportedly hit Goud. In retaliation, Goud’s followers threw sandals at the MLA in the middle of the road.
Malkajgiri MP Sarve Satyanarayana tried to calm down the situation during his speech but as soon as he wound up his speech, the rival groups started exchanging provocative remarks.
Though police personnel were present at the venue, they were reportedly asked not to push away the party cadre who crowded themselves around the dais.
Sudheer, former chairman of the erstwhile Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, was known to be a close aide of the late YSR.
He had differences with Ram Mohan over allocation of the party ticket. Earlier in the meeting, as MLA Sudheer shouted slogans,“YSR Amar Rahe.
”Both Ram Mohan Goud and Sudheer Reddy have been trying for one-upmanship in the party in LB Nagar area