A fresh political storm has erupted within the Telugu Desam Party after series of explosive comments made by controversial MLA from Tiruvuru assembly constituency Kolikapudi Srinivasa Rao against Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) on Thursday.
What began as simmering tension over the past few months reached a breaking point on Thursday when Kolikapudi made sensational allegations on social media, accusing Kesineni Chinni of demanding Rs 5 crore in exchange for the party ticket ahead of the last assembly elections.
He claimed to have paid Rs 1.8 crore in three instalments of Rs 60 lakh each and even posted his bank statements as “proof” in a WhatsApp status.
He further hinted that he would “reveal more details” about the alleged transactions on Friday.
Reacting sharply, Kesineni Chinni dismissed the charges as baseless and retaliated with biting remarks.
“Until yesterday, he called me a god — how did I suddenly become a demon?” Chinni asked.
He accused Kolikapudi of acting out of personal ambition, claiming that “those who insulted Chandrababu Naidu cannot expect party positions.”
He said he was not the kind of person who trades posts for money, calling the MLA’s charges “fabricated and politically motivated.”
The feud has reportedly angered the TDP high command, which has summoned both leaders to the party’s central office in Mangalagiri on Friday for an explanation.
Senior leaders are said to be deeply displeased over the public embarrassment caused by the episode.
This is not the first time the two leaders clashed publicly. A similar verbal spat broke out earlier this year, prompting the high command’s intervention.
After a brief truce, the rivalry has resurfaced — this time with damaging allegations that threaten to expose internal fissures in the TDP’s Krishna district leadership.