In Andhra Pradesh, every minor incident is now a canvas for political manipulation. The ruling coalition, led by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), alongside its allied yellow media, has mastered the art of pinning blame on the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for every mishap. Three recent incidents in Rayalaseema – a murder in Kurnool, a killing in Punganur, and an assault in Kadapa, have been shamelessly twisted to tarnish YSRCP’s image. Yet, a closer examination of the facts reveals a stark truth: these are personal disputes, not political conspiracies. The TDP’s relentless campaign to link these events to YSRCP is nothing short of a calculated smear, exposing their desperation to cling to power through propaganda.
Kurnool Murder: TDP internal feud, not a YSRCP Plot
Accusation: The TDP machinery swiftly suggested YSRCP’s involvement in the brutal murder of Kosapogu Sanjanna, a former corporator and TDP leader, in Kurnool’s Shareen Nagar. The narrative implied that YSRCP orchestrated the killing as a political hit to weaken TDP’s foothold in the region.
Fact Check: Sanjanna, who was hacked to death on a Friday night while returning from a bhajan program at Gudikal Alipira Swami temple, had a complex political journey—starting with CPI(M), moving to YSRCP, and finally joining TDP before the 2024 elections. Within TDP, he aligned with Baireddy Rajasekhar Reddy. However, his death sparked immediate unrest, with Sanjanna’s supporters attacking the vehicle of Vadde Ramanjaneyulu, another TDP leader. Police investigations identified Ramanjaneyulu and his sons as prime suspects, pointing to a long-standing rivalry within TDP ranks.
Truth: This was no political conspiracy but a gangland killing rooted in a power struggle between two TDP affiliates, Sanjanna and Ramanjaneyulu, both notorious rowdy sheeters with criminal histories. Their feud, marked by past attacks, centered on local dominance, not party lines. YSRCP had no role, yet TDP’s opportunistic deflection seeks to exploit the tragedy to fuel an anti-YSRCP narrative.
Punganur Killing: Family feud hijacked by TDP
Accusation: TDP leaders, including former ministers, descended on Punganur after Kagiti Ramakrishna Naidu’s murder, accusing YSRCP and its ex-minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy of masterminding the attack. They branded the accused—Venkataramana, Ganapati, Mahesh, and Trilok—as YSRCP goons acting on political orders, framing Ramakrishna as a victim of YSRCP’s “goonda raj.”
Fact Check: Ramakrishna (55) was hacked to death with a machete on a Saturday morning in Chandramakulapalli panchayat, succumbing to injuries en route to Tirupati. His son Suresh narrowly escaped and is recovering in Madanapalle. The accused, Venkataramana, is Ramakrishna’s cousin, and their decade-long property dispute had led to multiple prior clashes, including one 15 days earlier over a tractor quarrel. A clash during a Narasimha Swami procession the previous night escalated tensions, culminating in the fatal attack. Police suspended CI Srinivasulu and a head constable for inaction after Ramakrishna’s prior warnings about Venkataramana.
Truth: This was a family feud, not a political hit. The personal enmity between cousins Ramakrishna and Venkataramana, a YSRCP supporter, drove the killing, confirmed by police and locals as unrelated to party politics. TDP’s attempt to paint it as YSRCP aggression distorts a tragic rivalry, leveraging Ramakrishna’s death for political mileage.
Kadapa Assault: A Chit Fund Spat, Not a Political Threat
Accusation: Shabana, wife of Vivekananda Reddy murder case approver Dastagiri, alleged an attack by two women, Shamshoon and Parveen, claiming they threatened to kill her husband within a year while invoking ex-CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, MP Avinash Reddy, and YSRCP leader Ravi. TDP seized this as evidence of YSRCP intimidation linked to the Viveka case.
Fact Check: The incident occurred in Mallela village, Kadapa, where Shabana, a native, was confronted by a woman over unpaid chit-fund dues during a visit. A heated argument escalated into a minor scuffle. Shabana’s media statements amplified the event, tying it to political figures, but police dismissed it as insignificant, finding no evidence of YSRCP leadership involvement.
Truth: This was a mundane dispute over chit-fund payments, not a political threat. Shabana’s dramatic retelling, possibly to gain sympathy or attention, lacks substantiation. The absence of ties between the assailants and YSRCP leadership exposes TDP’s narrative as a fabricated conspiracy, crumbling under scrutiny.
The Bigger Picture: TDP’s Propaganda Playbook
These three incidents, distinct in their origins, share a common thread: TDP’s relentless distortion to implicate YSRCP. In Kurnool, it’s a TDP-on-TDP power clash; in Punganur, a property dispute between kin; in Kadapa, a trivial chit-fund quarrel. None bear YSRCP’s fingerprints, yet the ruling coalition and its media allies churn out a singular narrative: YSRCP is the root of all evil. This is no coincidence, it’s a strategy. By muddying the waters with baseless accusations, TDP aims to keep YSRCP on the defensive, distract from governance lapses, and rally public sentiment through outrage.
YSRCP leaders have decried this as “shava rajakeeyalu”, accusing TDP of exploiting deaths for votes. They highlight a pattern of harassment, filing frivolous cases against YSRCP workers and scapegoating leaders like Peddireddi, knowing these charges won’t hold in court. The real casualty is truth. Families grieve, justice stalls and the public is fed a steady diet of lies. Andhra Pradesh deserves better than a government that thrives on distortion, turning personal tragedies into political weapons. TDP’s hundred distortions may grab headlines, but the facts stand firm, unyielding and undeniable.
