Chalo Macherla: TDP leader Devineni Uma Placed under House Arrest

On Thursday, police placed leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) under house arrest to prevent their planned ‘Chalo Macherla’ protest against the alleged violence by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) during and after the polling. The TDP aimed to visit victims of the violence reportedly incited by Macherla’s sitting MLA, Pinneli Ramakrishna Reddy of the YSRCP. However, Palnadu district Superintendent of Police Mallika Garg denied permission for the protest, leading to the house arrests of key TDP leaders, including Nakka Anand Babu, K. Srinivasa Rao, Devineni Uma, and Varla Ramaiah.

Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy, the TDP candidate for the Macherla Assembly constituency, has been under house arrest since the polling on May 13. The constituency saw several incidents of poll-related violence, including damage to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in seven locations. YSRCP’s Ramakrishna Reddy, who is seeking re-election, was caught on video damaging an EVM, prompting the Election Commission of India to order his immediate arrest. Police have since launched a manhunt for Reddy following the viral incident.