Telangana Congress leader Revanth Reddy detained ahead of KCR’s rally 

Police in Telangana on Tuesday, December 4, detained state Congress Working President Revanth Reddy ahead of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's election rally in Vikarabad district.

He was picked up from his residence earlier in the day ahead of Rao's rally in Kosgi, Kodangal, and was shifted to an undisclosed location.

Reddy, who quit the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join the Congress earlier this year, represented Kodangal in the dissolved Assembly. His detention came in view of Reddy's threat to disrupt the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief's rally. Congress leader had called for a bandh in Kodangal on Tuesday and asked people not to attend the rally

Reddy’s wife Geetha Reddy said that at least 40 persons barged into their bedroom after breaking open the door and took her husband away. “When we asked to see their identity cards, they refused. They just dragged away my husband like a criminal,” she said.

In a video tweeted by Congress leader DK Shivakumar, several policemen in protective gear are seen entering Reddy’s residence and escorting him out.

The Election Commission had also issued a notice to Reddy for his threat.

The police has booked two cases against the Congress leader.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) stated that they will lodge a complaint against the arrest with the Election Commision. According to them the police told Reddy that he was being detained before the CM’s rally because he had allegedly said that he would disrupt the rally.

The Congress called the arrest a “stain on our democracy”, and adding that it was a clear sign that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) fears an imminent loss in the elections.

Tension prevailed in Kodangal following Reddy's detention. The police have already imposed prohibitory orders in the town to prevent any untoward incident.

Elections to the 119-member Telangana Assembly are scheduled for December 7.