A cabinet minister in Andhra Pradesh and a legislator of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came to blows in full public glare following an argument at Denduluru in West Godavari district here today,police said. Tourism Minister Vatti Vasant Kumar and TDP legislator Chintamaneni Prabhakar shoved each other after an heated argument on the dais during the 'Rachabanda' (mass contact programme),they said adding the MLA was later taken into custody. Prabhakar initially raised house patta and other issues with the minister. A heated argument ensued,after which,the MLA pushed the latter aside,before allegedly hitting him in his stomach,who also retaliated,police sources said. Congress Eluru MP K Sambasiva Rao also had a verbal duel with the MLA and police had a tough time separating the leaders and their supporters who clashed. After the incident,both,the minister and the MLA,lodged complaints with the police. Separate cases have been registered against both of them and the MLA has been taken into custody,West Godavari District Superintendent of Police C Ravi Varma said. The minister was booked under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC while a case under section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty),the senior police officer said. Tension prevailed in Denduluru town following the incident as supporters and workers of Congress and TDP clashed and rasta rokos were held at different places. However,police managed to bring the situation under control,Varma said.
