Telugu Desam Party president Chandrababu Naidu's convoy was on Saturday allegedly stoned by supporters of YSR Congress party when he was addressing a road show as part of the by-election campaign at Lingala in Kadapa district.
The incident occurred close on the heels of a similar attack on Praja Rajyam Party chief K Chiranjeevi's road show in Pulivendula constituency on Friday night.
Undeterred by the attack, Chandrababu continued his road show, asserting that he would not be cowed down by such attacks.
Armed with sharp weapons like axes and sickles, the group first attacked the TDP workers and then hurled stones at Chandrababu's convoy, but his security personnel provided a shield and ensured that he was not hit.
Though caught by surprise, the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister did not duck for cover and stayed on top of the SUV even as TDP workers resisted the attack.
Later police entered the scene and chased away the miscreants. When locals and police appealed to him to leave the place in view of the situation, the TDP chief reacted angrily daring the local sub-inspector to arrest him.
"I will not move from here, if you want you can arrest me," he said. Chandrababu alleged that security for his road show was scaled down.
"Today, they (supporters of YSR Congress party) are not allowing leaders to tour the villages. Will they let people to vote freely in the by-election," he said.
Meanwhile, TDP leader Nama Nageswara Rao, leader of opposition in AP legislative council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and other TDP leaders strongly condemned the attack.
Veerabhadra Rao, senior MLA M Narasimhulu and other TDP leaders met Director General of Police K Aravinda Rao here this evening and requested him to take action against the miscreants and ensure that the by-election process was completed smoothly.
They also met the State Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal and complained about the attack. Last night, eggs and footwear were hurled at Chiranjeevi allegedly by supporters of YSR Congress party when he was conducting a road show on behalf of the ruling Congress in Pulivendula constituency.
