Suspended YSRCP MLA Placed under House Arrest in Nellore

Amaravati, April 6 (IANS) Suspended YSRCP legislator Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy was placed under house arrest in Nellore on Thursday to foil his protest demanding construction of a bridge in his constituency.

As a mark of protest over the police action, the MLA from Nellore Rural constituency sat on dharna along with supporters in front of his residence.

Demanding construction of bridge over Pottepalam stream, the MLA had announced an eight-hour 'Jal Deeksha'. However, the police stopped him from leaving, saying there is no permission for the protest.

A large number of police personnel were deployed around the MLA's house to stop him. The MLA's supporters also reached there to show solidarity with him.

Sridhar Reddy said he would continue the sit-in till the police allowed 'Jal Deeksha'. He told reporters that he had been requesting the police for the last 10 days to grant permission for the peaceful protest. He alleged that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government is not even allowing him to register his protest over civic issues in his constituency.

Sridhar Reddy was one of the four rebel MLAs suspended by YSRCP last month for casting their votes for opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate in Legislative Council election from MLA quota.

Hours before his suspension on March 24, Sridhar Reddy joined the TDP.

Sridhar Reddy had raised the banner of revolt against YSRCP in February and created a sensation with the allegation that his phones were being tapped with orders from the top.

He alleged that the phone tapping started after he raised people's issues and spoke about roads, drinking water and other civic problems in his constituency. He stated that phone tapping was not possible without orders from the chief minister.

The MLA is known for novel protest over the civic problems in his constituency. Last year, he had entered a sewage drain to protest the delay by civic and railway authorities in constructing a bridge.

He had shocked everyone by sitting on the bank of the drain with his feet into the sewage water.