The Aryavarth Express
Amaravati / Guntur, February 4, 2026: The political temperature in Andhra Pradesh soared further after the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of being behind the violent attack on the residence and office of senior YSRCP leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu in Guntur. The party has condemned the incident as a politically motivated assault and a deliberate attempt to intimidate opposition voices in the state.
The unrest erupted after a protest by activists — reportedly linked to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) — in response to controversial remarks attributed to Ambati Rambabu about Chief Minister Naidu. A mob allegedly vandalised and damaged the former minister’s home and party office, set vehicles on fire, and hurled abusive language and physical attacks at the property, leaving residents shaken. Police have since registered an FIR against Guntur West MLA Galla Madhavi, her husband and several others in connection with the attack.
YSRCP leaders vehemently criticised the state government’s failure to prevent the violence and alleged a collapse of law and order under Naidu’s leadership. At an emergency party meeting, senior YSRCP figures including Legislative Council Opposition Leader Botsa Satyanarayana accused elements within the ruling party and even some police personnel of actively encouraging attacks on their opponents. They claimed that rather than ensuring protection, authorities stood by as the assault unfolded, undermining institutional neutrality.
Party spokespersons described the attacks as part of a larger pattern of intimidation and suppression, asserting that when Naidu’s government could not answer political criticism — including scrutiny over issues such as the Tirumala laddu ghee controversy — it resorted to violence and coercion. YSRCP leaders labelled the incidents “barbaric” and a threat to democratic rights, warning that such tactics would not silence dissent.
YSRCP national president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also weighed in, accusing the ruling alliance of fostering “anarchy and barbaric rule” and encouraging political intimidation. In a social media post, he alleged that the attacks — including another incident where YSRCP leader Jogi Ramesh’s house was vandalised and partly set on fire — were orchestrated to instil fear among opposition ranks. He warned that rather than cowing the party, such actions would fuel public discontent against the government.
Responding to the controversy, Chief Minister Naidu has rejected the YSRCP’s claims, criticising his opponents for provocative rhetoric and emphasising the government’s commitment to upholding law and order across the state. He has urged all political actors to refrain from inflammatory language and avoid disrupting public peace.
The episode has prompted concern from legal quarters as well: the Andhra Pradesh High Court has called for restrained political discourse and directed enhanced security at Ambati Rambabu’s residence to prevent any further violence.
Amid the heightened political tensions, investigations into the attack and related incidents are ongoing, with police reviewing evidence including CCTV footage and witness accounts as part of the broader law and order response.
