CBN Sending the Wrong Signals by Sparing Kolikapudi?

The issue between Tiruvuru MLA Kolikapudi Srinivas and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Chinni is going out of hands.

MLA Kolikapudi snatched the silk clothes from MP Kesineni Chinni’s head during the Venugopalaswamy Brahmotsavam in Nemali village under the Tiruvuru constituency. Media cameras got those visuals and they went viral very quickly.

When the MLA snatched the silk clothes from the MP, the MP’s security people tried to stop him. The MLA’s group also confronted them. The argument escalated but the issue was resolved before it became a fight. Temple officials and police intervened and managed to calm things down on the spot.

It is shocking how the MLA could not contain his behavior even in a Temple. This is not the first time something ugly like this happened with Kolikapudi.

Due to his controversial behavior, the party had to summon him before the Disciplinary Committee for three times already.

The appearances were in January 2025 (tribal dispute and farmer remarks), March 2025 (liquor shop issues), and November 2025 (feud with MP Kesineni Chinni).

Even though Kolikapudi reportedly crossed the line some time ago, Naidu appears to be delaying action for political reasons. Some observers believe the leadership is carefully weighing the possible social and political implications before taking any decision.

Chandrababu is often seen as someone who gives considerable importance to social and electoral equations. There is a view in political circles that the party may be cautious about the issue escalating into a sensitive social divide, which could create unnecessary tensions.

However, the TDP had not won Tiruvuru since the 2004 election, which means a gap of more than two decades. In the recent TDP wave election, Chandrababu Naidu fielded Kolikapudi in Tiruvuru, and he went on to win the seat.

But if Kolikapudi is not handled rightly, the situation in Tiruvuru will go beyond repair. The TDP should question itself if they want such scenario.

Kolikapudi is not an icon of the Dalit communities that they get disturbed if action is taken on him. People these days are very vigilant. They have been seeing what Kolikapudi is doing to the Government and the party all these months. They will clearly be able to see why if the party takes action on him.

Delaying the action is also sending a wrong signal that Chandrababu Naidu is worried if he will have to face a by-election. That message is very bad for a Government which won 164 seats and that is not even two years ago.