The challenges between TDP and YSRCP leaders in Visakhapatnam have led to them swearing-in at temples. Alleging that Visakha East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna had indulged in land grabbing, YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Sai Reddy made it clear that they will not tolerate encroachments. When the MLA denied the allegations of land grabbing and offered to swear in front of God in the temple, the RS MP backtracked from the challenge. However, the Visakha East YSRCP incharge Vijaya Nirmala accepted the challenge and agreed to visit the Sai Baba temple in Visakha East Point Colony. A three-tier security arrangement was made by the police at the venue in the wake of thousands of YSRCP leaders gathering at the spot.
The Corporation authorities even erected signs boards which stated ‘government land’ at the sites believed to be owned by Ramakrishna. However, the MLA maintained that the land did not belong to him and that he did not grab even a yard. He challenged Vijay Sai Reddy to come to the temple for swearing and also offered to give him a Rs 100 bond paper. The MP is yet to respond to this.
In this context, YSRCP Vizag East in-charge Vijaya Nirmala came to the temple with her followers and vowed to stay in the temple. The YSRCP supporters threatened the MLA saying that if he didn’t turn up, they would visit his office in large numbers with a photo of Sai Baba.
The Velagapudi MLA, however, said that MP Vijay Sai Reddy should accept his challenge. He said that while Vijay Sai Reddy was busy touching the feet of Delhi leaders for withdrawal of cases, he was waiting for him to come to the temple. He ridiculed the allegations stating that a person who was in jail for 16 months in corruption cases was speaking against him. He said that if Vijay Sai Reddy accepts his challenge, he would come to the temple within ten minutes. With this, the issue seems to have died down.