It looks like maverick Telugu Desam Party MLA from Tiruvuru assembly constituency Kolikapudi Srinivas Rao continues to be a defiant leader, despite getting a dressing down from the party’s disciplinary committee and repeated warnings from party president N Chandrababu Naidu.
After keeping silent for a few days after getting a reprimand from the TDP leadership, Kolikapudi, who shot into political prominence through the Amaravati farmers' agitation, once again revived his attack on Vijayawada MP Kesineni Shivanath alias Chinni.
In a series of provocative WhatsApp status posts on Friday, Kolikapudi openly targeted leaders aligned with the MP in the NTR district’s Vissannapeta mandal.
He questioned the conduct and credibility of local TDP office-bearers owing allegiance to Chinni.
Without naming Chinni, the Tiruvuru MLA asked which organisation he was heading.
“Are you the president a gambling club? Have you set up an office for playing cards? Truly royal behaviour—day and night matches near Kondaparbha Gattu.”
The posts have caused a stir within party factions and intensified tensions between the MLA and the MP.
The Tiruvuru constituency falls under the Vijayawada Lok Sabha segment represented by Kesineni Chinni, and relations between the two leaders have long been strained.
The conflict previously escalated when Kolikapudi made sensational allegations against the MP, prompting Chinni to issue strong counters.
The TDP high command intervened, summoning both leaders and reprimanding them, but Friday’s developments indicate that the discord remains unresolved.
Party insiders worry that the ongoing public sparring not only exposes factionalism but also risks undermining TDP’s organisational stability in key constituencies.
With the MLA’s latest remarks circulating widely, local cadres aligned with both sides are reportedly on edge, raising concerns of further escalation.
