ANANTAPUR:At a meeting to celebrate the party foundation day here on Sunday, TDP activists belonging to two groups clashed leading heated arguments and fisticuffs resulting in injuries to a few.
This incident, which happened in the presence of information and public relations and IT minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy, brought groupism in the party to the fore.
As local MLA Y Prabhakar Chowdary was the meeting, held at Cresent School, one of the party activists Venkataramudu interrupted him saying that injustice was meted out to party followers who had worked hard to ensure victory to the party in the elections.
However, the MLA disputed his version and promised due recognition to all activists who had worked for the party development. But with the activist persisting to disturb the MLA’s speech, he lost his cool and said that those who had worked for the success his rival from YSRC to defeat him in the last elections, would not get recognition at any time.
This led to heated arguments between the followers of the MLA and his rival group, reportedly headed by Anantapur Municipal Corporation Mayor M Swaroopa.
Exchanging fisticuffs, both the groups used the plastic chairs to attack each other. Some of them even used flower pots to attack the rivals leading to tension in the meeting hall.
Repeated appeals made by Palle Raghunatha Reddy and the MLA Chowdary went in vain.
However, leaders of the party succeeded in sending away some of the activists belonging to both the groups.
In the melee, a corporator Krishna Kumar and another person Uma Maheswar sustained blood injuries. Later, they along with their followers went to the NTR statue located at Arts College and staged a dharna there. However, with the interference of police, they gave up the protest.
Meanwhile, the police said that they had not received any complaints nor registered any cases.