Cong and TDP MLAs get physical at meet

HYDERABAD: A routine official meeting turned into a battle zone as ruling Congress and opposition TDP legislators came to blows at Srikakulam town in Andhra Pradesh.

Congress MLA K Murali Mohan and TDP legislator K Jogulu traded blows as tempers ran high at the meeting on Thursday to review the status of implementation of a housing scheme for the poor.

The trouble broke out when Jogulu, who represents Palakonda constituency in Srikakiulam district, started attacking the government for tardy implementation of the programme and wanted to know reasons for delay in grounding the houses in three villages, G Mangalapuram, Parapuram and Karakarayaspuram, in his constituency.

Alleging official apathy and the ruling party's indifference to the problems of his constituency, he surged towards the podium and insisted on a reply from Housing Minister B Sathyanarayana who was chairing the meeting.

At this stage, Murali Mohan, a ruling party MLA from Etcherla, stood up and raised objections over the opposition member's behaviour. The two were then engaged in a brief verbal duel.

In the midst of heated exchanges, Mohan rushed towards Jogulu, caught him by his collar and pushed him. Shouting at each other, the two MLAs exchanged blows.

The minister and other officials left the meeting venue in a huff.

Later, the TDP leaders, led by its Parliamentary Party Leader K Yerran Naidu, staged a sit-in in the town to protest the assault on their legislator.