ANDHRA PRADESH: TDP Suspends Leaders Over Spurious Liquor Scandal
In a decisive move to uphold party integrity, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has suspended two of its local leaders amid serious allegations tied to a spurious liquor operation.
This action underscores the party’s commitment to transparency as investigations unfold in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district.
The suspensions target Dasaripalli Jayachandra Reddy, the Thamballapalle Area Committee Incharge, and Katta Surendra Naidu, both accused of involvement in manufacturing and distributing adulterated alcohol.
TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao announced the decision in a statement released on Sunday, emphasizing a thorough probe into their roles.
Swift Directive from the Top
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu personally ordered the suspensions, signaling zero tolerance for activities that jeopardize public safety.
Authorities have sealed two wine shops, Andhra Wines in Pedda Tippasamudram and Rockstar Wines in Mulakalacheruvu, linked to the supply chain of the fake liquor.
This rapid response aims to prevent further harm while gathering evidence.
The operation allegedly involved producing counterfeit alcohol in Mulakalacheruvu, a rural pocket in Annamayya district, raising concerns about regulatory lapses in the state’s liquor trade.
Health risks from such adulterated products have prompted heightened vigilance from enforcement agencies.
Brewing Political Storm
The development has ignited sharp criticism from opposition quarters. YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused TDP leaders of fostering a “spurious liquor mafia,” claiming the party dismantled government outlets to favor private syndicates.
He highlighted the Mulakalacheruvu factory as evidence of deep-rooted issues in the sector.
As the inquiry progresses, questions linger about oversight in Andhra’s evolving alcohol policy landscape. Will this purge restore faith or expose wider vulnerabilities?