Proddatur MLA's followers lock up TDP leaders
KADAPA: The simmering anger of the followers of Proddatur MLA M Linga Reddy, who was denied TDP ticket to contest the Assembly election, erupted on Sunday when his followers locked up the party's senior leaders, including SV Satish Kumar Reddy (MLC) in protest against the 'injustice' meted out to their leader.
TDP leaders _ SV Satish Kumar Reddy, MLC, and Kadapa Lok Sabha candidate R Srinivasulu Reddy _ visited Linga Reddy's residence on Sunday morning to hold discussions with the sulking Linga Reddy.
Coming to know about this, hundreds of followers of Linga Reddy reached his residence and locked up the two leaders in a room. Raising slogans against party MP CM Ramesh and alleging that he was responsible for denial of ticket to Linga Reddy, the agitating party activists said they would not release the two leaders until justice was done to Linga Reddy.
They also alleged that Ramesh was damaging the party's image in the district. The activists did not even heed Linga Reddy's request to let the two leaders off at least for some time.
Later, when Satish Kumar Reddy and Srinivasulu Reddy held talks with Linga Reddy, the latter told them that grave injustice was done to him. The duo assured to take up the matter with the party high command and ensure justice to him in any other possible way. Sources said that Linga Reddy did not gave the two emissaries any assurance on withdrawing from the contest.
Later, speaking to reporters, Satish Kumar Reddy said they had gone to Linga Reddy's residence only to speak to him about the denial of ticket to him and denied having been sent by the party to placate the sulking MLA. Linga Reddy told reporters that he would take a decision only after discussing with his followers and party activists.
Linga Reddy, the sitting MLA from Proddatur, was denied renomination by the TDP which has favoured N Varadarajulu Reddy, who has defected to it from the Congress recently, for giving the ticket.
Linga Reddy, who has been sulking for the past two days, openly expressed his resentment to party chief N Chandrababu Naidu during his visit to Vijayawada on Saturday. A determined Linga Reddy filed his nomination from Proddatur.
News Posted: 21 April, 2014
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