A shocking incident occurred in Andhra Pradesh, echoing past events, as the state's Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, was attacked with stones during a roadshow in Vijayawada. Unidentified individuals from the crowd launched the attack, leaving Reddy with a minor cut above his left temple.
Despite the injury, Reddy continued with his duties, receiving medical treatment on a bus before resuming his 'Memantha Siddham Bus Yatra.' The attack took place near Vivekananda School Centre in Singh Nagar, Vijayawada, where Reddy was engaging with supporters from his bus. Additionally, MLA Vellampalli Srinivasa Rao, who was accompanying the Chief Minister, also suffered injuries.
The Chief Minister's office suggested that the opposition party, Telugu Desam Party, could have been involved in the attack. Prominent political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader KT Rama Rao, expressed their concern and condemned the assault. Modi sent his best wishes for Reddy's speedy recovery on social media, while Rao stressed that violence has no place in democracy and called for the Election Commission of India to take strict preventive measures.
This attack takes place ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on May 13, during which 25 constituencies in Andhra Pradesh will be contested.