YSRCP dharna meets PETs’ counter-dharna at SAAP office in Vijayawada over DSC sports quota jobs

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Police stop YSRCP leaders, including former Ministers Vellampalli Srinivas and Jogi Ramesh, at barricades outside the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh office at Labbipet in Vijayawada on Monday. | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

Leaders of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) staged a dharna in front of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) office on Monday (September 21, 2026), alleging irregularities in the DSC sports quota recruitments.

Party workers tried to lay siege to the SAAP office at Labbipet on M.G. Road, raising slogans and demanding that the government explain the alleged malpractices in the sports quota selections and take action. The party also demanded a CBI inquiry.

Former Ministers Vellampalli Srinivas and Jogi Ramesh, former MLA Malladi Vishnu and YSRCP leader Devineni Avinash were among those who took part in the protest.

YSRCP leaders including former Ministers Vellampalli Srinivas and Jogi Ramesh are taken into preventive custody outside the SAAP office in Vijayawada on Monday. The party alleges DSC sports quota jobs went to unqualified candidates without a test. Video: G.N. Rao pic.twitter.com/Sxa8CMsA5d

The YSRCP leaders alleged that the government had filled the vacancies without conducting a test, and that unqualified persons had been given jobs.

Physical Education Teachers (PETs) selected under the quota held a counter-dharna at the SAAP office, alleging that the YSRCP leaders were making baseless allegations.

Physical Education Teachers selected under the DSC sports quota sit in protest outside the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh office at Labbipet in Vijayawada on Monday, rejecting the YSRCP’s allegations of irregularities in their selection. | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

The PETs, carrying placards, said they had been selected fairly and appealed to the YSRCP leaders not to politicise the issue.

There was tension at the SAAP office when the police put up barricades and tried to stop the agitators.

Mr. Vishnu said the police were not allowing them to submit a representation on the alleged malpractices and corruption in the DSC sports quota recruitment.

Physical Education Teachers selected under the DSC sports quota sit in protest outside the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh office at Labbipet in Vijayawada on Monday, rejecting the YSRCP's allegations of irregularities in their selection. Video: G.N. Rao pic.twitter.com/ECtHexTPqe

The police said Section 30 of the Police Act was in force, and no permission had been given for rallies and dharnas. They prevented the YSRCP leaders from proceeding and took them into preventive custody.