YSRCP protest at SAAP office triggers lathi-charge, detentions in Vijayawada
Synopsis
A YSRCP protest over alleged teacher recruitment irregularities in Andhra Pradesh turned volatile when sports-quota teachers staged a counter-protest at Vijayawada's SAAP office. Police resorted to a lathi-charge and detained several YSRCP leaders, with the opposition accusing TDP workers of infiltrating the venue disguised as teachers — a charge the ruling party has yet to address.
Key Takeaways
YSRCP held a protest at the SAAP office, Vijayawada on 21 September 2026 , demanding Education Minister Nara Lokesh's resignation and a CBI probe into Mega DSC appointments.
Newly recruited sports-quota teachers staged a counter-protest at the same venue, leading to near-clashes and a tense standoff lasting nearly two hours .
Police resorted to a lathi-charge and detained multiple YSRCP leaders and activists, including former minister Ambati Rambabu , at Pedakakani and Krishnalanka police stations.
YSRCP alleged that TDP -linked individuals posing as teachers entered the SAAP premises and attacked its cadres with sticks.
Spokesperson Konda Rajiv accused the coalition government of misusing police force and vowed to intensify protests until justice is delivered to eligible DSC candidates.
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) staged a protest outside the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) office in Vijayawada on Monday, 21 September 2026, demanding the resignation of Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh over alleged irregularities in teacher appointments under the sports quota and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into what the party called the Mega DSC scandal. The demonstration turned tense when newly recruited teachers arrived for a counter-protest, triggering near-clashes, police intervention, a lathi-charge, and the detention of multiple YSRCP leaders and activists.
How the Standoff Unfolded
Teachers appointed under the sports quota entered the SAAP complex to submit a memorandum and refute what they described as false propaganda against their selection process. YSRCP leaders and cadres, meanwhile, gathered outside the main gate. Both groups traded slogans and reportedly came close to physical altercations, keeping the area around Labbipet tense for nearly two hours. Police locked the gate to prevent a direct confrontation and erected barricades to block additional protesters from reaching the premises.
Lathi-Charge and Mass Detentions
When crowd control measures proved insufficient, police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse YSRCP protesters. Several leaders and activists were detained at multiple locations. Former minister Ambati Rambabu, along with Vanama Bala Vajrababu, Ambati Muralikrishna, and Noori Fatima, were intercepted near Kaza Toll Plaza and taken to Pedakakani Police Station. Separately, Jakkampudi Raja, Perni Krishna Murthy, Nagarjuna Yadav, and others were detained at Krishnalanka Police Station after participating in the DSC protest. Police also reportedly stopped YSRCP leaders travelling to Vijayawada from different districts from reaching the venue.
YSRCP Alleges TDP-Linked Violence
The opposition party charged that persons linked to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) entered the SAAP premises posing as teachers and attacked YSRCP activists and student-wing leaders with sticks, leaving several injured. YSRCP further alleged that police failed to prevent these attacks and instead directed force against its own workers. TDP has not responded publicly to the allegation as of the time of reporting.
YSRCP's Core Demands
YSRCP PAC member and former Vinukonda MLA Bolla Brahmanaidu demanded a comprehensive CBI probe to establish facts and ensure justice to deserving DSC candidates. YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajiv said the coalition government had 'misused police force to detain party leaders and cadres' instead of answering questions raised by aspirants. He questioned whether Andhra Pradesh was under 'democratic rule or dictatorial Red Book rule,' a direct reference to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Rajiv vowed to intensify protests 'until justice is delivered to each and every eligible and meritorious candidate.'
Background: What Is Mega DSC
The District Selection Committee (DSC) recruitment — dubbed Mega DSC — was a large-scale teacher hiring drive in Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP has alleged procedural irregularities in appointments made under the sports quota, contending that undeserving candidates were favoured. The ruling coalition, led by TDP, has not formally responded to demands for a CBI inquiry. This protest is the latest in a series of agitations by YSRCP over the recruitment process since it moved to the opposition following the 2024 Andhra Pradesh assembly elections.
With YSRCP threatening to escalate demonstrations and the government maintaining silence on an independent probe, the controversy over Mega DSC appointments is unlikely to recede in the near term.
Point of View
Now in opposition after a decisive 2024 defeat, is leaning hard on recruitment grievances to rebuild relevance, and the Mega DSC controversy offers genuine traction: teacher hiring irregularities touch lakhs of aspirants and their families. The government's response — deploying police rather than ordering a credible inquiry — hands the opposition exactly the 'repression' narrative it needs. Notably, the allegation that TDP workers entered the SAAP complex posing as teachers is serious; if verified, it would suggest organised counter-mobilisation, not spontaneous pushback. Neither the government nor the TDP has denied or addressed that charge in the public record — a silence that mainstream coverage has largely overlooked.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mega DSC controversy in Andhra Pradesh?
Mega DSC refers to a large-scale District Selection Committee teacher recruitment drive in Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP alleges that appointments made under the sports quota were irregular and that undeserving candidates were favoured, and has demanded a CBI investigation into the process.
Why did YSRCP protest at the SAAP office in Vijayawada?
YSRCP chose the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh office as the protest site because the disputed sports-quota teacher appointments fall under SAAP's jurisdiction. The party demanded Education Minister Nara Lokesh's resignation and a CBI probe into the recruitment.
What happened when teachers staged a counter-protest?
Teachers appointed under the sports quota arrived at the SAAP complex to refute allegations and submit a memorandum, leading to rival slogan-shouting with YSRCP cadres. The groups nearly came to blows, and police locked the gate, erected barricades, and eventually resorted to a lathi-charge.
Who was detained during the Vijayawada protest?
Several YSRCP leaders and activists were detained, including former minister Ambati Rambabu, Vanama Bala Vajrababu, Ambati Muralikrishna, and Noori Fatima — intercepted near Kaza Toll Plaza — and Jakkampudi Raja, Perni Krishna Murthy, and Nagarjuna Yadav at Krishnalanka Police Station.
What has the government said about the CBI probe demand?
As of the time of reporting, the Andhra Pradesh government and the ruling Telugu Desam Party have not formally responded to YSRCP's demand for a CBI inquiry into Mega DSC appointments or to the allegation that TDP-linked individuals attacked YSRCP activists inside the SAAP complex.
