Two MLAs clash in Andhra Pradesh Assembly as TDP protest turns ugly

AMARAVATI: Ugly scenes were witnessed in the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly on Monday with two MLAs of the YSRCP and the TDP almost coming to blows. Unprecedented scenes were witnessed after TDP members, demanding a discussion on the controversial GO No.1, stormed the Speaker’s chair and besieged him as part of their protest.

As tempers ran high between the ruling and opposition members, YSRCP’s Sudhakar Babu and Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy of the TDP allegedly pushed each other before almost coming to blows. The violent turn of events prompted Speaker Thammineni Seetharam to suspend 11 members of the TDP for the day.

Trouble broke out during the Question Hour when the TDP members insisted that their adjournment motion on a detailed discussion on the controversial GO No.1 be taken up. Amid their noisy protests, the Speaker expressed his displeasure saying that the TDP members were trying to dictate the Chair. On the other hand, the TDP members kept raising slogans, saying that they were being robbed of their legitimate rights. The Speaker too retorted, saying that the members should make use of their rights in a fair manner.

The TDP members later resorted to a protest at the Speaker’s podium. They went up to the Speaker’s Chair and besieged him while carrying out their high-decibel agitation. This invited an angry response from the treasury benches with Ministers Ambati Rambabu, Chelluboyina Venugopala Krishna, Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha and MLA Malladi Vishnu demanding the suspension of the TDP members for their unruly behaviour. Even as Chief Whip Mudunuru Prasada Raju was about to recommend the suspension of the TDP members, a nasty clash reportedly took place between Sudhakar Babu (YSRCP) and Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy (TDP).

The Speaker had to adjourn the House for a while amid severe tension. He later announced the suspension of the TDP members for creating ruckus in the House.

Both the YSRCP and the TDP later claimed that their member was attacked by the other. While the YSRCP members alleged that the TDP members intentionally attacked their member Sudhakar Babu, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu described it as a dark day in the Assembly’s history. He alleged that their MLA Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy was attacked by the ruling party members at the behest of Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Did TDP members attack Speaker, YSRCP MLAs?

Despite the claims of Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP leaders, a conflicting version emerged from the ruling party, contending that it was the opposition party members who attacked the Speaker and the YSRCP MLAs.

According to the claims of the ruling party, the TDP which made it an agenda to disrupt every Assembly Session convened for the past three years and on Monday crossed all limits while staging a protest against the Government in the House. As per the version of the YSRCP, during the question hour, a few TDP MLAs led by K Atchennaidu stormed the Speaker’s podium with yellow placards and gheraoed the Speaker from both sides. They tore papers and threw them at the Speaker. During the ruckus that ensued, YSRCP MLAs VR Eliza and TJR Sudhakar Babu went to protect the Speaker. However, they were pushed by a TDP MLA and TJR Sudhakar Babu was injured in the scuffle.

Several YSRCP MLAs rushed to the podium in support of the Speaker and the MLAs, resulting in a scuffle. TDP MLA Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneyaswamy allegedly hurled expletives at Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy and the YSRCP MLAs.TDP MLA Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary pushed Vellampalli Srinivas who fell down leading to tense moments in the House. The YSRCP MLAs strongly condemned the behavior of the TDP leader and termed it a black day in the history of Andhra Pradesh Assembly. They alleged that these attacks and protests were a ploy by the TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu to disrupt the Assembly proceedings.

The proceedings were stalled for a brief period and the TDP leaders were suspended for a day from the Assembly proceedings.