TDP, YSRCP activists clash in Punganur on first day of nominations; MP Midhun Reddy’s convoy attacked

Tension prevailed in Punganur town in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district on Friday (October 16, 2026) after activists of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) clashed on the first day of nomination filing for the October 28 elections to 100 urban local bodies in the State. Some activists of both parties were injured in the stone pelting, and at least four cars were vandalised in the clash. Rajampet MP P.V. Midhun Reddy, who accompanied the YSRCP candidates to file nominations, was moved to safety from the clash site with difficulty by the police and YSRCP activists, reports reaching here said.

The filing of nominations for the October 28 elections to municipal corporations and municipalities began on Friday. According to information reaching here, Mr. Midhun Reddy was on his way to the nomination centre for filing of nominations along with the contesting candidates. Punganur municipality has 36 wards and direct election is being held to elect the Chairperson. Punganur is the stronghold of former Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, and his son, Mr. Midhun Reddy, represents the Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency, under which Punganur falls.

Punganur MLA Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said the YSRCP leaders were on their way to file nominations along with Mr. Midhun Reddy when the attack took place.

A large number of TDP activists also reached the office to file nominations, leading to the clash. Both sides pelted stones at each other and Mr. Midhun Reddy’s convoy came under attack. The vehicles were pelted with stones and attacked with sticks and iron rods. Their windows were damaged, and police personnel and activists were injured.

The police took Mr. Midhun Reddy away in the convoy, which had come under attack. Mr. Ramachandra Reddy blamed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh for the pre-poll violence in Punganur and other parts of the State.

Some TDP activists were also injured in the clash, reports reaching here said. The TDP, on the other hand, said the MP came in a huge convoy even after being stopped by the police. When the TDP leaders protested the high-handedness of the MP, the YSRCP activists pelted stones at them, the party said.

The YSRCP condemned the “murderous attack” on Mr. Midhun Reddy and the manner in which the TDP activists tried to block the convoy and stop YSRCP candidates from reaching the nomination centre. The party accused the TDP government of allowing its workers to indulge in violence to silence opposition candidates and disrupt the election process.

The party demanded that the State Election Commission intervene immediately, direct the police to register criminal cases and arrest those responsible, and take action against officers who failed to prevent the attack.

Additional forces were rushed to Punganur to prevent any flare-up of clashes.