The internal battle that is going on in the Gangadhara Nellore constituency in the politics of the joint Chittoor district has now reached its peak. This war of words between the ruling Telugu Desam Party MLA and government whip Dr. V.M. Thomas and YSR Congress Party senior leader and former Deputy CM K. Narayanaswamy has become a big sensation locally. The strong comments made by MLA Thomas at the booth level agents meeting held recently in the constituency have increased the heat in Chittoor district politics.
MLA Thomas, who sold his posts and bought a villa, targeted the corruption of the former Deputy CM in his criticism. Narayana Swamy publicly accused him of selling his MPP post for Rs. 1.50 crore during the previous government and buying a luxurious villa in Tirupati with the settlement money. Thomas clarified that they are going in a systematic manner because they are educated people and that they have no history of corruption and irregularities. Recalling the incident of illegal cases being filed against Nara Lokesh, who was the then opposition leader in the constituency, he said, “Are you so stupid as to file cases against Lokesh?”
This controversy has gone beyond the scope of political criticism and reached the level of personal warnings. Thomas made harsh comments, saying, “Don’t win me.. If you win me, you won’t even be able to sleep at night.. You will have a heart attack in the middle of the night and die.” He warned that if they wanted to, they could have him sitting in a police station on a cut drawer overnight, but that they were exercising restraint because Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu did not like such partisan actions. He lashed out with harsh language, saying that if he opened his mouth and spoke the truth, the others would bleed from their noses and ears.