One Dead After Convoy Vehicle Hits Supporter In YSRCP Roadshow

A 53-year-old man, identified as Singaiah, died after being hit by a vehicle that was part of a YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) rally led by party chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday. The incident occurred on the national highway near Etukuru in Guntur district, as the convoy was on its way to Rentapalla in Palnadu district.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, Singaiah had joined the procession in hopes of seeing the YSRCP leader up close. However, during the rally, one of the vehicles reportedly struck him. Locals alleged that participants in the rally left the injured man at the roadside. He was later rushed to Guntur General Hospital by nearby residents, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The rally was headed toward Rentapalla, where Jagan Mohan Reddy was scheduled to console the family of a YSRCP functionary who had allegedly died by suicide, reportedly due to police harassment. Despite strict restrictions imposed by law enforcement, hundreds of party supporters from Guntur, Palnadu, and surrounding areas joined the convoy after it left from Jagan's residence in Tadepalli, Amaravati.

Police had permitted only three additional vehicles and a maximum of 100 people to accompany the former Chief Minister, citing recent incidents of stone-pelting during his tour of Prakasam district. In anticipation of large gatherings and possible confrontations, Palnadu district authorities set up 25 check-posts around Rentapalla and deployed a heavy police presence to monitor the situation.

Following the accident, police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Singaiah's death. Efforts are underway to identify the vehicle responsible and determine the sequence of events leading up to the collision.

The incident has intensified political tensions in the state. YSRCP leaders accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition of obstructing their party chief's outreach initiatives. Jagan Mohan Reddy's itinerary also included a visit to the family of the late deputy sarpanch, Nagamalleswara Rao, and the unveiling of a statue in his memory.

This latest rally comes days after Jagan's visit to Podili in Prakasam district, where he blamed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly provoking opposition to his programs aimed at distressed tobacco farmers.