A meeting, organised by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) to welcome new entrants into the party, ended in a protest after the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) officials, who initially gave permission, later revoked it citing that the VMRDA premises cannot be used for political meetings.
The meeting was scheduled for 10.30 a.m. at the VMRDA Children’s Theatre at Siripuram, on Monday. When the organisers reached the venue at around 10 a.m. and were making last minute arrangements, VMRDA staff arrived, evicted the organisers from the theatre and locked the doors.
Some of the party workers and YSRCP leaders reached the place and asked the VMRDA staff reason for declining permission after granting it. Later, party workers and leaders staged a protest squatting on the road, outside the VMRDA Arena main gate and raised slogans against the ruling Alliance government.
When contacted by The Hindu, former Minister Gudivada Amarnath said: “We paid ₹70,000 online for booking the hall. In the requisition form we clearly mentioned that the meeting was being held to welcome new members into the party. Our event managers setting up the LED screens and decorations, when the VMRDA staff came and locked the theatre doors from outside, after sending out the organisers.”
VMRDA Secretary Muralikrishna said in a statement said: “The VMRDA Children’s Arena cannot be used for political meetings. The venue was booked online in the name of Dharmala Anand Kumar for a ‘get together’ programme. However, they were preparing to hold a political meeting due to which the permission was declined. The VMRDA facilities can only be used to conduct auspicious functions, children’s programmes and school functions.”
Published – December 22, 2025 09:13 pm IST
