Tension in Kuppam as police resort to lathi-charge during nominations scrutiny

Tension gripped Kuppam on Monday (October 19, 2026) as Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) cadres stormed the nomination scrutiny zone for urban local body elections, triggering an altercation and forcing police to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the gathering.

The situation turned tense as supporters of both parties converged at the scrutiny venue, with the confrontation creating panic among those present. As police charged at the gathering to bring the situation under control, cadres from both sides ran helter-skelter to escape the lathi-charge.

The incident disrupted the atmosphere surrounding the scrutiny of nominations and highlighted the political tensions accompanying the local body election process. Police intervened to prevent the confrontation from escalating further and restore order at the venue. Security measures were stepped up to prevent further confrontations between the rival groups.