Palnadu tense as YSR Congress, TDP plan rallies to Athmakur

VIJAYAWADA: The Palnadu region in Guntur district remains tense with the ruling YSRC and the opposition TDP giving a ‘Chalo Athmakur’ call to their supporters.
TDP had given the call a week ago to highlight the alleged excesses of the ruling party against TDP supporters in the region and is running a ‘rehabilitation camp’ in Guntur town with those TDP workers who had run away from the region.
YSRC is planning to hold a similar programme with people who have been harassed by TDP in the last five years.

YSRC legislators from Guntur district, including minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, alleged that TDP was trying to disturb Palnadu for political mileage. “At least five YSRC leaders were killed in the last five years of the TDP rule. We were not even allowed to visit the bereaved families in those days. Now, there are no such incidents. Still Chandrababu Naidu and TDP leaders are spreading false news as if there is a law and order breakdown in the region,” said Narasaraopet MLA Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy.
Meanwhile, the TDP chief had announced that his party would go ahead with the programme and expose the excesses of the ruling party against TDP supporters. He alleged that the ruling party was targeting TDP workers in villages and several of them were harassed and even driven away from homes and villages. He sought justice for the victims of YSRC attacks.
On the other hand, the officials have clamped prohibitory orders in the Palnadu region, the revenue division of Gurazala, suspecting breakdown of law and order.
In the name of Moharam and Ganesh immersions, sub-divisional magistrate and revenue divisional officer of Gurazala, J Parthasaradhi has declared prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC till 10 pm on September 12 in the entire region.
The police have made elaborate arrangements in Guntur and the Palnadu region. All roads leading to Narasaraopet, Gurazala, Marcharla and other places were closed for security check.
The TDP leadership, however, said it would go ahead with the scheduled programme to visit Athmakuru village. Chandrababu Naidu would lead the party workers and leaders from the Guntur office in the morning and all the leaders were asked to join the rally.
YSRC too is gearing up for a similar procession from Guntur with legislators heading to Athmakru village in a motor rally. The decisions of the two parties, in light of the prohibitory orders issued, have put the entire region in a tense situation.