The meeting hall of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) general body turned into a showground for the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders on Thursday, with both of them indulging in a war of words as a follow-up to the controversial remarks made by TDP floor leader Y. Ramana Rao on Wednesday.
Leaders of the TDP and the PRP used new acronyms to deride the other party. Countering Mr. Ramana Rao's description of the PRP as ‘Paniki Raani Party' (a useless party), PRP MLA Vellampalli Srinivas, who made it a point to attend the general body meeting as if to counter the TDP, said that the TDP was nothing but “Thodu Dongala Party” (a party of thieves hand in glove).
“It's unfair”
Mr. Srinivas began his intervention by asserting that it was unfair to comment on a party or a member who was not present at the meeting. “I request to you to direct the corporator concerned to withdraw his remarks,” he told Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu, who was in the chair. Even as the Mayor was about to react, the MLA lost no time in coming out with the acronym.
Within no time, all hell broke loose. Both Mr. Srinivas and Mr. Ramana Rao shouted at each other at the top of their voices and resorted to mudslinging even as the Mayor appealed to them not to make any political statement at the general body meeting. Meanwhile, the Left parties opposed the cross talk, and the Mayor ruled that neither of them would be allowed to speak, seeking to put an end to the uproar. Congress MLA Malladi Vishnu, who was present at the meeting, watched the ruckus with a smile and later held the hands of Mr. Srinivas aloft as if to show unity between the Congress and the PRP.
Later, Mr. Srinivas and Vijayawada East MLA Yelamanchili Ravi, addressing the media, alleged that the TDP had lost ground in the city, and was sailing against the tide with the help of the Left parties. “Its floor leader cannot even lead 10 corporators. While his party is fighting against liquor, he is thoroughly immersed in liquor business. And, he swindled 50 flats belonging to the poor,” they alleged. Mr. Ramana Rao countered the charges, saying the Vijayawada West MLA had duped the traders of One Town area.
