Tense moments prevailed in the town on Tuesday when rumours spread that Gudivada MLA Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao (Nani) had beaten some youth who raised slogans in favour of cine actor Balakrishna and Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
The MLA, however, said that neither he nor his associates were involved in such an incident. “Some youth entered our theatre and raised slogans. The security staff objected to it saying sloganeering was not allowed on theatre premises, and grabbed the key chain from a person in the group. Nothing more happened. The issue has been blown out of proportions,” he said.
Gudivada DSP P. Parameshswar Reddy said that they had not received any formal complaint from the youth who levelled allegations against the MLA. They (youth) approached the police on the plea that they were thrashed by the MLA. But, they were not willing to lodge a complaint, he said.
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The police made elaborate arrangements in the town in view of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘Vastunna Meekosam’ padayatra in the town. A posse of policemen was deployed in front of Sarath theatre to avoid any untoward incident as TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu was scheduled to pass through the theatre and address a public meeting in the town. A house arrest kind of situation prevailed near Sarath theatre where the MLA parked himself along with his associates. The police cordoned the area, and the DSP personally monitored the situation.
As the channels beamed about the incident, followers of Mr. Nani poured in good numbers at the theatre. When asked, Mr. Nani said: “The police haven’t asked me not to venture out of the theatre. I regularly sit here.”