Vijayawada, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A protest by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) at the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) office in Vijayawada on Monday, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Nara Lokesh over alleged irregularities in teacher appointments, triggered tension as newly recruited sports-quota teachers staged a counter-protest.
The YSRCP had called the protest to raise allegations of irregularities in the appointment of teachers under the sports quota and demand a thorough CBI probe into the Mega DSC recruitment process.
Teachers appointed under the sports quota also reached the SAAP office, opposing what they described as false propaganda against them. They sought to submit a memorandum to SAAP authorities.
Both groups raised slogans against each other and nearly came to blows, with the area remaining tense for nearly two hours.
The teachers remained inside the SAAP complex while YSRCP leaders staged their protest outside the gate. Police intervened to prevent a clash and locked the gate. Several YSRCP leaders and cadres were detained.
The opposition party alleged that workers of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), posing as teachers, attacked its cadres. It also alleged that police used force while dispersing protesters at Labbipet after erecting barricades to prevent them from reaching the SAAP office.
YSRCP leaders maintained that their protest was peaceful and questioned the use of police force instead of ordering an independent investigation into the recruitment process.
Party PAC member and former Vinukonda MLA Bolla Brahmanaidu joined the protest and demanded a comprehensive CBI probe to establish the facts and ensure justice for deserving DSC candidates.
The YSRCP further alleged that persons linked to the TDP entered the SAAP premises posing as teachers and attacked its activists and student-wing leaders with sticks, leaving several injured. The party also accused police of failing to prevent the clashes and subsequently using force against its workers.
Police also intercepted YSRCP leaders travelling to Vijayawada from different districts. Former minister Ambati Rambabu, Vanama Bala Vajrababu, Ambati Muralikrishna and Noori Fatima were among those stopped near Kaza Toll Plaza and taken to Pedakakani Police Station.
Jakkampudi Raja, Perni Krishna Murthy, Nagarjuna Yadav and others were detained at Krishnalanka Police Station after participating in the DSC protest.
YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajiv alleged that instead of answering questions raised by aspirants, the coalition government was using police force to detain party leaders and cadres.
He questioned whether Andhra Pradesh was being governed democratically or under what he termed a “Red Book” rule, and alleged that the government was attempting to evade evidence, intimidate dissenters and suppress protests.
Rajiv said the party would intensify its agitation until justice was delivered to eligible and meritorious candidates and accountability was fixed in the recruitment process.
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