Vizianagaram town was in the grip of tension as both TDP and Congress planned dharnas against each other. While TDP chief Naidu led the party’s dharna on the liquor scam at the Collectorate, Congress leaders have in a novel way planned to submit a memorandum to the statue of late N T Rama Rao, asking him to provide wisdom to his son-in-law who had totally watered down his prohibition policy.

Over 3,000 policemen were posted in the town to meet the situation. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr.P.C. were clamped in the vicinity of the Collectorate. TDP senior leader Ashok Gajapati Raju fainted when he was pushed back by the police while trying to gatecrash into the Collectorate. Later, police arrested Ashok Gajapati Raju, Varla Ramaiah and Bhandaru to bring the situation under control. They also caned the surging TDP workers at the Collectorate.

Addressing party workers, Chandrababu Naidu described Botcha as Ravana. He said that Botcha as liquor mafia don would meet the same fate as the mining baron Gali Janardana Reddy who is cooling his heels in the jails. He said that he did not understand how the people of Vizianagaram were tolerating some one like Botcha. He said that despite police reprisal, his party would not turn back in its fight on people’s problems. He alleged that the government was harboring “thieves”

While the TDP staged dharna at one of the gates of the Collectorate, the Congress held dharna at the other. Congress leaders have alleged that Chandrababu Naidu was the real liquor don. They said that Naidu staged the dharna as his party lost its foothold in Vizianagaram district. They said that as the party had no cadres in the district, workers were brought from Visakhapatnam. Congress leaders have demanded an apology from Naidu.