The issue of Telangana Rashtra Samiti party’s nominee from Chennur (SC) Assembly constituency in Mancherial district took a somewhat dangerous turn on Wednesday when a supporter of former government whip and Chennur (SC) MLA Nallala Odelu tried to immolate himself in a campaign rally of Peddapally MP Balka Suman at Indaram.
The party president K. Chandrashekhar Rao had recently announced the name of Mr. Suman as candidate from the constituency instead of the sitting MLA.
An eyewitness said Mr. Odelu’s supporter, Renugunta Srinivas had also filled petrol in his mouth and sprayed it on Mr. Suman, who was actually not within reach. The inflammable liquid nevertheless had 15 others in the vicinity, including a police officer and three journalists covering the rally, who received burn injuries.
Police had earlier taken away some Telugu Desam Party workers who were staging a protest at Indaram against the opening of an open-cast coal mine. Mr. Suman and his followers had reached the place a few minutes later only to have Srinivas spray petrol around.
The injured included Srirampur CI Narayana, Namaste Telangana photographer Srinivas, TV9 videographer Mahender and Velugu photographer Anish who were shifted to Mancherial Area hospital where they were given initial treatment. Others including the severely burnt Renugunta Srinivas and Chekurthy Satyanarana Reddy and Rajeshwari were shifted to Hyderabad for better treatment for the burn injuries.
It may be recalled that caretaker Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrashekhar had denied renomination to Mr. Odelu and gave the ticket instead to the Peddapally MP. The former had expressed his resentment over the development and had locked himself inside his residence at Mandamarri town the previous day demanding he be given the ticket again.
Mr. Odelu had ended his self confinement in the evening the same day after being invited for talks by his party president. He was slated to meet Mr. Rao on Wednesday at Hyderabad.