A scuffle between the activists of the Congress and the
Communist Party of India (Marxist) during a ‘Praja Patham'
meeting at Ramakrishnapuram led to involvement of police on
Thursday. The police took into custody 11 activists of the CPI
(M) and took them to the Satyanarayanapuram police station,
where other activists of the party staged a dharna demanding
release of their colleagues and seeking action against the
Congress activists.  The trouble began when the activists of the
CPI (M) interrupted the speech of Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi
Vishnu. Over half-a-dozen activists surrounded the MLA with
their representations and questioned the delay in completing the
construction of houses meant for the poor in 53{+r}{+d}
division.  As Mr. Vishnu lost his cool, the Congress activists
picked up an altercation with CPI (M) activists that led to a
scuffle between the two groups. Following a complaint lodged by
Congress activists, the Satyanarayanapuram intervened and took
the activists of the CPI (M) into custody.