Chennur MLA Nallala Odelu and his followers have been upset since KCR's decision to nominate Suman from the constituency.
TRS MP Balka Suman
Tension prevailed at a rally of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Wednesday after a man allegedly attempted self-immolation to protest the denial of a party ticket to a leader that he supported, for the assembly polls.
The rally was being addressed by TRS MP Balka Suman who was named as the MLA candidate for Chennur in Mancherial district.
The police said that 16 people were injured, when the man, identified as Gattiah, doused himself in petrol and attempted to self immolate. Eye witnesses claimed that Gattiah also approached the MP in an attempt to attack him but was foiled by the police and security officials. Suman was later escorted to safety.
A police inspector was also injured in the meele, while some mediapersons also suffered minor burns. Gattiah is also presently undergoing treatment.
Gattiah was reported to be a follower of present Chennur MLA Nallala Odelu, who was among the few who were not given a ticket to contest again by Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
On Tuesday, high drama prevailed as Odelu had locked himself up in his own house for several hours along with his family, staging a protest and demanding his renomination from the constituency.
Though he claimed that he would not step out of his house till his demands were met, Odelu later called off the protest, reportedly after a phone call from KCR.
Addressing party workers on Wednesday, Balka Suman said "KCR gave me a ticket and announced my name for Chennur seat. Intentionally, one person tried to throw petrol on me while another tried to throw a matchstick. My supporters, party workers and gumen immediately acted and saved me. I want to tell those attempting on my life, to stop all this 'drama. I will definitely contest and win Chennur because it is not my decision, but one made by KCR. I'm not afraid of any such media.
Hours after dissolution of the Telangana state Assembly on September 6, the ruling TRS announced candidates for 105 constituencies.
KCR announced the names at a news conference at TRS headquarters -- Telangana Bhavan. He said only two sitting candidates were denied tickets, adding that the candidates for the remaining 14 constituencies would be announced soon.
He was addressing the media a couple of hours after the cabinet meeting, which recommended dissolution of the Assembly to pave way for early polls. Governor ESL Narasimhan accepted the recommendation.