Police Prevent TDP MLA Butchaiah Chowdhary From Taking Part In Open Debate, Arrested 

Vijayawada: Soon after the arrest of former Congress MP Undavalli Arun Kumar on Tuesday, the city police arrested TDP MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdhary near Gannavaram when he was about to reach the city.

Butchaiah's car was prevented from heading towards the city, where the TDP MLA was supposed to take part in an open debate with Undavalli Arun Kumar over the irrigation projects in the state.

Arun Kumar threw a challenge to the TDP to come for an open debate on lift irrigation project — Pattiseema and the Polavaram project. He wondered as to why the AP government is giving more importance on Pattiseema rather focusing on the construction of the Polavaram project.

Accepting the challenge, Butchaiah decided the venue — Prakasam barrage for the debate. He was stopped near Gannavaram when he was heading for the city. The police told him that there was no permission for the debate at the Prakasam barrage. Butchaiah was told that prohibitory orders were in place and he cannot visit the place.

Expressing severe displeasure over the police, the TDP MLA protested by not getting down from his four-wheeler. Soon, he was taken into custody.