Congress workers clash turns violent in Tungaturthi, police lathicharge as two injured

Hyderabad: Internal turf wars in the Congress party exploded into violence Saturday in Arvapalli mandal of Tungaturthi constituency, Suryapet district. A workers’ meeting turned chaotic even before it began, as rival factions loyal to sitting MLA Mandula Samuel and former minister Ramreddy Damodar Reddy came to blows.

The trigger? A flex banner. Samuel’s supporters stormed the venue, angry that his photo was printed smaller than Damodar Reddy’s. They accused the organisers of protocol violations, sparking a heated exchange that spiralled into physical scuffles.

Within minutes, both sides were pushing and shoving. Fists flew. Two workers sustained injuries in the melee.

Police rushed to the scene and resorted to lathicharge to break up the fight. One individual suffered a fractured leg during the chaos and was shifted to Suryapet Area Hospital.

The infighting, now public and violent, signals growing cracks within the party’s Suryapet unit, especially in the run-up to internal realignments. No official statement yet from PCC leadership.