Stealing the show, if not the plunder

AMARAVATI: Looks like, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has adversaries, one too many in Andhra Pradesh! The YSRCP leadership and its cadre are the biggest, which is a no brainer. BJP men are the 'blow hot, blow cold' rivals. But, there is one more bunch of men -- far from politics -- that the veteran leader and his followers are forced to contend with these days.

The only difference is, these people are sparing Naidu only to target the leaders around him. In fact, they are pinching them in their pockets, literally!

Pickpockets had a field day on Saturday during the TDP chief's visit to the flood-ravaged areas of Rajole in Dr Ambedkar Konaseema district. While Naidu was busy lampooning the YS Jaganmohan Reddy government over the flood relief measures, petty thieves innocuously spread themselves among the public and used their sticky fingers to great effect.

It is learnt, as many as 30 TDP leaders found that their wallets were stolen during this time. The biggest loser, however, was former minister and TDP's incharge for Rajole, Gollapalli Surya Rao. In a complaint lodged with the Rajole police, Surya Rao stated that Rs 32,000 in cash and an additional Rs 17,000 in foreign currency were stolen from his pocket.

After registering a case, the police are on the lookout for the offenders.

Pickpockets striking at political events has been a common occurrence in Andhra Pradesh due to the large turnout of people.