Hyderabad: BJP and TRS workers clashed on Tuesday in Telangana’s Munugude constituency, where by-elections are scheduled on Thursday.
Few workers of both the parties were injured in the incident which took place in Pulivela when the leaders of the two parties were busy campaigning.
Some Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supporters allegedly pelted stones at the convoy of BJP MLA Eatala Rajender, who was campaigning in the village.
Both groups attacked each other with stones and sticks. The police intervened to disperse the clashing groups.
Both sides blamed each other for the attack. Rajender, who was earlier in the TRS, alleged that ruling party workers assaulted him when he along with his wife came to the village to have lunch with the people. He alleged that two ruling party MPs and two Zilla Parishad chairmen were behind the attack.
The former minister claimed that 30 people, including security and his personal assistant, were injured. He said 10-15 vehicles were also damaged in the attack.
BJP’s publicity vehicle was also damaged in the attack. The BJP MLA said that the BJP workers acted with restraint. “We are against physical attacks. Our party is running the election campaign in a democratic way,” he said.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy also condemned the attack by TRS men. He said TRS resorted to physical attacks due to fear of losing the by-elections. He claimed that despite the violence by the TRS, the BJP would win the by-elections of the four assembly elections in the state.
Meanwhile, the TRS blamed the BJP for the attack. Finance and Health Minister T Harish Rao said that since the TRS was enjoying the support of the people, the BJP had become desperate. He called on the party cadres to act with restraint in view of the elections.