Sun Feb 02 12:53:24 UTC 2025: ## Tirupati Deputy Mayor Election Turns Violent as Demolition Sparks Political Clash

**TIRUPATI, Andhra Pradesh (February 2, 2025)** – A political showdown erupted in Tirupati on Saturday as the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) attempted to demolish a building belonging to a YSRCP corporator, M. Sekhar Reddy, who was a candidate for the Deputy Mayor post. The demolition, cited as a violation of building regulations, led to a dramatic confrontation between ruling NDA and opposition YSRCP leaders.

The incident unfolded amidst an indirect election for the Deputy Mayor position. A shift in allegiances following a change in government had left the municipal corporation with a near equal balance of power between the two parties. The timing of the demolition, just after Reddy’s nomination, raised suspicion among YSRCP ranks.

YSRCP leaders, including Mayor R. Sireesha Yadav and former Deputy Mayor Bhumana Abhinay Reddy, staged a sit-in to prevent the demolition, leading to their arrest. Mayor Yadav’s participation in the protest against the MCT’s decision, a body she herself heads, added to the dramatic nature of the event.

Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, former MLA and YSRCP district convener, condemned the actions as intimidation tactics. He questioned why the alleged building code violation was only discovered after Reddy’s candidacy was announced.

Following the confrontation, Sekhar Reddy reportedly withdrew his candidacy, forcing the YSRCP to reconsider its choice for the Deputy Mayor position. The incident highlights the intense political rivalry in Tirupati and raises questions about the fairness of the election process.

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