Rival Protests Over Andhra Sports Quota Hiring Turn Tense in Vijayawada
YSRCP's protest outside the SAAP office in Vijayawada over alleged irregularities in Mega DSC-2025 sports quota recruitment turned tense after rival groups clashed.
A protest by the YSR Congress Party outside the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh office in Vijayawada turned tense on Monday, as party workers and sports-quota teachers held rival demonstrations over alleged irregularities in the Mega DSC-2025 recruitment.
The YSRCP is demanding a CBI investigation into the selections, alleging that candidates with fake or questionable sports certificates secured teaching jobs while genuine sportspersons were left out. Among those pressing the demand was party Youth Empowerment Convener and former APPSC board member Salam Babu. Party leaders said the government should respond to the allegations rather than use the police to silence job aspirants.
Police had refused permission for the protest, pointing to prohibitory orders, traffic restrictions and security arrangements for Vinayaka immersion processions. YSRCP workers still gathered near the SAAP office, where barricades were put up and, according to reports, force was used to disperse the crowd. Several party leaders and activists were detained.
The standoff escalated when sports-quota teachers reached the office to defend their appointments. The two sides exchanged slogans and an altercation followed, in which one teacher reportedly suffered a head injury. The teachers rejected the fake-certificate allegations, saying their medals and qualifications were earned through years of hard work.
The TDP dismissed the YSRCP's claim that ruling-party supporters were behind an attack. Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and TDP MLA Eluri Sambasiva Rao accused YSRCP workers of creating unrest and attempting to attack teachers, alleging that outside elements and rowdy-sheeters had been brought to the venue by the opposition.
At the centre of the dispute is the sports quota recruitment under Mega DSC-2025. A SAAP notification dated May 1, 2025 invited applications for 421 teacher posts under the three per cent horizontal reservation for meritorious sportspersons, with selection carried out without a written examination. A total of 372 candidates were subsequently appointed under the quota.
The state government has said the eligibility and authenticity of certificates are being examined individually, and that action will follow if any candidate is found to have submitted a fake certificate or breached eligibility norms.