TDP leaders stage protest in Rajam over report on MLA

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, including Rajam Agriculture Marketing Committee chairman Guravana Narayana Rao, former Turpu Kapu Corporation chairman Kolla Appla Naidu, former Mandal Parishad president Botcha Vasudeva Naidu, and around 800 party activists, staged a massive protest in Rajam on Saturday against a report aired on a private TV channel owned by the family of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Traffic came to a standstill for nearly half an hour as the protesters formed a human chain and raised slogans condemning the channel for allegedly carrying defamatory news against TDP MLA Kondru Murali Mohan. The report had linked the legislator to frequent transfers of local officials in the past year. A heavy police force was deployed to prevent untoward incidents during the agitation, which saw participation from leaders across all four mandals of the constituency.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Narayana Rao alleged that the channel targeted Mr. Murali at the behest of local YSRCP leaders who were unable to accept his victory in the 2024 general elections. TDP Rajam city president Nandi Surya Prakash accused the ruling party of attempting to tarnish the MLA’s image through false and fabricated reports.

Meanwhile, Mr. Murali has reportedly petitioned the Press Council of India, seeking action against the channel for spreading misleading reports and attempting to create doubts about his credentials among the public.