Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was injured on Saturday evening when his convoy came under attack with stones during an election rally in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
A group of troublemakers began throwing stones at the CM’s bus during the rally, causing injuries to him and another individual. Reddy sustained a cut on his left eyebrow from the impact.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the stone struck Reddy while he was acknowledging the crowd during his bus tour at Vivekananda School Centre in Singh Nagar, Vijayawada. The stone appeared to have been propelled at high speed, possibly from a catapult, prompting those around him on the bus to initially tend to his injury with a handkerchief.
The chief minister received first aid from a doctor inside the bus promptly after the incident. Despite the attack, he continued his campaign in the city, canvassing for nearly four hours.
Leaders from the YSRCP accused the TDP of orchestrating the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the Chief Minister a speedy recovery via his social media account.
BRS leader K.T Rama Rao condemned the attack, emphasizing that violence has no place in democracy. YSRCP leader Hafeez Khan also denounced the incident, attributing it to the TDP’s inability to accept the overwhelming support for CM Jagan during his campaign.
Reddy has undertaken a 21-day election campaign bus tour from Idupulupaya in Kadapa district to Icchapuram in Srikakulam district. Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled for May 13, with vote counting set for June 4.