ELURU: Denduluru TDP MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar and tourism minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar clashed with each other over a protocol row between them at the second phase of Rachchabanda programme in Denduluru on Saturday. Later, they complained against each other in the police station. The police arrested the TDP MLA and registered a case against the minister.When the Rachchabanda programme began this morning, Vatti invited Denduluru Assembly segment Congress incharge K Ramachandra Rao onto the dais first and TDP MLA Prabhakar later. Irked by this, the TDP MLA during his speech said the minister was not following protocol and it was not for the first time he violated it. Congress MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and Vatti tried to pacify the TDP MLA. But the MLA continued his speech condemning the indifferent attitude of the minister. The TDP MLA alleged that the state government was not releasing funds to his segment for development works. At this juncture, the MLA and the minister entered into a heated argument. At one stage, the minister snapped the microphone on the table and stood from his chair while arguing with the MLA. While the irate TDP MLA was proceeding towards the minister menacingly, some Congress leaders tried to prevent him. Later, the minister slapped the MLA and the MLA also hit the minister. The gunmen of both the leaders tried to avert a major clash. In the melee, the MLA’s shirt got torn.Truly following their leaders on the dais, Congress and TDP workers at the venue also clashed with each other. The police chased them away with lathis.Later, the minister’s gunmen lodged a complaint with the police, who arrested the MLA and shifted him to Pedavegi police station and from there to Eluru Three Town police station.A case was registered against Prabhakar under Sections 323, 506 and 535 of the CrPC.Basing on the complaint given by the TDP MLA, the police registered a case against the minister under Sections 323 and 506 of the CrPC. Protesting the highhandedness of the minister, the TDP workers staged a dharna at the Three Town police station and also on the national highway at Ungutur.The TDP organised protests at several places in West Godavari district condemning the arrest of the party MLA. They demanded the release of Prabhakar and arrest of Vatti. After the incident, Vatti attended another Rachchabanda programme at Pedavegi which concluded within 10 minutes as the TDP activists obstructed it. Speaking to reporters before his arrest, the TDP MLA alleged that the minister came to attend the programme in an inebriated condition and he would complain to the chief minister against Vatti. Tension prevailed in Eluru as the TDP organised protests at the police station and other places demanding the release of Prabhakar.
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