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Tension prevailed in Arvapally mandal headquarters in Suryapet district on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) after supporters of Congress Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir) MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Thungaturthi MLA Mandula Samuel clashed over the appointments of the party’s mandal presidents.
The violence erupted when a group of Congress leaders and workers, reportedly dissatisfied with the recent appointment of party mandal presidents in nine mandals of the Thungaturthi Assembly constituency, set out for a “Chalo Gandhi Bhavan” programme to lodge a complaint with the party leadership. As their vehicles reached the Arvapally junction, supporters of the MLA allegedly obstructed them, leading to heated arguments.
The confrontation soon escalated into a violent clash, with members of both factions attacking each other with sticks and stones on the main road. The incident created panic among the locals, and two vehicles were damaged during the violence.
According to reports, supporters of MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and former Minister Ramreddy Damodar Reddy came under attack during the clash. Some party workers and a few police personnel were reportedly injured.
Police rushed to the spot and initially attempted to disperse the groups. However, as the situation continued to deteriorate and fresh stone-pelting was reported, police resorted to a lathi charge to bring the situation under control. It is learnt that the activists had even snatched the latis from the police and attacked the rival group members.
The dispute is said to have stemmed from allegations by the MP’s supporters that the MLA had taken unilateral decisions in appointing party mandal presidents. Congress workers had also staged a protest in Tungaturthy earlier this week over the issue. It is learnt that Mr. Reddy’s followers and a few police personnel were injured. The police have reportedly registered cases against members of both groups and launched an investigation into the incident.
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