Tirupati turned into a political hotbed on Thursday as a fiery face-off unfolded between Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President Palla Srinivas Rao and former TTD Chairman, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy. The flashpoint? Allegations of cow deaths at the TTD Goshala—an issue that has rapidly snowballed into a full-blown political challenge.
Earlier this week, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy publicly accused the TTD administration, currently under the purview of the TDP-led government, of negligence leading to cow deaths at the prestigious Goshala. In a swift rebuttal, TDP President Palla Srinivas Rao threw down the gauntlet, inviting Reddy to visit the Goshala and inspect the conditions for himself.
Taking up the challenge, Karunakar Reddy, along with a contingent of YSRCP leaders, geared up to visit the Goshala on Thursday. However, drama unfolded when police reportedly placed Reddy and several YSRCP members under house arrest, citing law and order concerns. This move sparked outrage among YSRCP cadres and raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
In a video that has since gone viral, an irate Karunakar Reddy is seen attempting to contact Palla Srinivas Rao over the phone—presumably to urge him to intervene with the police. However, his call reportedly went unanswered, further fuelling speculation and political mudslinging.
While TDP leaders assembled at the Goshala and claimed that Reddy was granted permission but “backed out” of the challenge, YSRCP leaders hit back hard. “If the government has nothing to hide, why resort to house arrests? Why stop us from visiting the Goshala?” questioned a senior YSRCP spokesperson, calling the police action a clear misuse of power.
