Thungathurthy Congress Rift Triggers Tirumalagiri Clash and Gandhi Bhavan Dharna

Tensions within the Congress party's Thungathurthy Assembly constituency escalated into physical clashes at Tirumalagiri on Sunday night, alongside protests at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad, as internal factionalism deepened among local leaders.

The ongoing rift involves party factions aligned with Thungathurthy MLA Mandula Samuel, Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and the Komatireddy brothers. Friction intensified several months ago when Samuel reportedly instructed party workers during an event with Kiran Kumar Reddy to inform him prior to approaching the Bhongir MP for any work, prompting sharp protests from party workers.

Disagreements over key local party posts further widened the division, specifically regarding the positions of Congress mandal presidents in Shaligowraram and Jajireddygudem, two mandals featuring major sand reaches. Kiran Kumar Reddy successfully backed his supporter, Chintha Danunjaya, for the post of mandal president in Shaligowraram despite opposition from Samuel. Conversely, Samuel secured the appointment of his supporter, Gudipati Madhukar Reddy, as mandal president in Jajireddygudem.

The appointment in Jajireddygudem met with strong resistance from supporters of the late Ramreddy Damodar Reddy, leading to physical clashes between supporters of the MLA and the late leader's family. In response to the appointment decisions, Congress leaders Marapaka Sathyam, Narsiga Srinivas, and Anreddy Rajender Reddy, who were aspiring for the leadership position, organized a dharna with their supporters at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad.

The political friction worsened following remarks made by Samuel targeting the Komatireddy brothers, culminating in the clash between opposing groups at Tirumalagiri on Sunday night. Party sources stated that supporters of the Thungathurthy MLA allegedly attacked Youth Congress leaders Kanduru Ambedkar and Parripati Yugender after they held a press conference to condemn Samuel's statements.

Both Youth Congress leaders suffered injuries during the assault and subsequently lodged a complaint with Suryapet Superintendent of Police K. Narsimha. In their complaint, the injured leaders alleged that the attack was politically motivated and pre-planned. The repeated altercations between rival Congress groups have raised concerns regarding the law-and-order situation within the constituency.