VISAKHAPATNAM: On the eve of Dussehra festival, a prominent YSRCP leader raised eyebrows by openly distributing liquor and live chickens to his supporters, a move that has sparked criticism.
Typically, people purchase meat, such as mutton or chicken, on the final day of Dussehra, and some may indulge in liquor consumption.
Doddi Bapu Anand, a ward-level leader representing the Visakha South assembly constituency, distributed 180ml bottles of liquor and live broiler chickens at the YSRCP ward-level office in Dabagardens, in full public view.
The act followed his previous distribution of 1kg of mutton to each person last year, and it was aimed at garnering support from his followers.
Notably, the leader recently assumed responsibility for four wards within the Visakha South assembly constituency, and it is believed that this distribution was intended to attract party cadres.
However, the leader's enthusiastic gesture has drawn criticism, with many questioning the need to openly distribute liquor, and some even capturing the event on video and in photographs. Party officials contend that while pleasing party cadres is not negative, such actions should have been conducted in a more discreet, closed-door manner.