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Guntur, India
YSR Congress Party's Tenali MLA and a candidate for state assembly elections, A Sivakumar, in a brazen act, slapped a voter after the latter called out the legislator for jumping the queue and not waiting for his turn at a polling booth located in the Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh.
In the 10-second video, the MLA is seen walking towards the voter and slapping him on his face. The voter is then seen returning the slap to the MLA, after which all the aides of the political leader jointly launch an attack on the voter.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: YSRCP MLA and candidate for state assembly elections, A Sivakumar attacks a voter in Tenali, Guntur. The voter, who was standing in a queue to cast his vote, objected to the MLA's attempt to jump the line and cast his vote without waiting. The MLA, in… pic.twitter.com/9tDP8wwJO8
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2024
No security personnel tried to save voter
As the aides of the MLA continue hitting the voter, other voters are seen trying to stop the assault. However, no security personnel is seen intervening to rescue him. The entire brawl was caught on camera and the video has gone viral.
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It remains unclear how the dispute reached the extent of an exchange of blows, however, social media users are strongly condemning the attack by the MLA.
A case against the MLA has been registered by the police and an investigation is going on.
Posting the video, TDP leader Nara Lokesh wrote on X, "Voters who say that there is nothing to fear from YSRCP's rowdyism, I applaud your courage."
Watch: India Lok Sabha Election 2024: 1,717 candidates in the fray in Phase 4 voting
The voting for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections and Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections are taking place simultaneously on May 13 (Monday).
In the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, Andhra Pradesh is voting on 25 seats along with 175 Assembly seats. The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party government is fighting against an alliance of N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party and the BJP.
(With inputs from agencies)