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

Police stopped YSRCP leaders, including former ministers Vellampalli Srinivas and Jogi Ramesh, at barricades outside the Andhra Pradesh Sports Authority office at Labbipet in Vijayawada on Monday. | Photo credit: GN Rao

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

Party workers tried to surround the SAAP office in Labbipet on MG Road, raising slogans and demanding that the government explain the alleged malpractices in the selection of sports quota and take action. The party also demanded a CBI probe.

Former ministers Vellampalli Srinivas and Jogi Ramesh, former MLA Malladi Vishnu and YSRCP leader Devineni Avinash took part in the protest.

YSRCP leaders including former ministers Vellampalli Srinivas and Jogi Ramesh are taken into remand outside the SAAP office in Vijayawada on Monday. The party claims that the DSC sports quota jobs have gone to unqualified candidates without a test.

Video: GN Rao pic.twitter.com/Sxa8CMsA5d

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) September 21, 2026

YSRCP leaders alleged that the government filled the vacancies without conducting the test and that unqualified persons were given the jobs.

PETs counter protest

The physical education teachers (PETs) selected under the quota staged a counter-dharna at the SAAP office, alleging that YSRCP leaders are making baseless allegations.

Physical education teachers selected under the DSC sports quota sit in protest outside the Andhra Pradesh Sports Authority at Labbipet in Vijayawada on Monday, rejecting the YSRCP’s allegations of irregularities in their selection. | Photo credit: GN Rao

Carrying placards, the PETs said they were selected fairly and appealed to YSRCP leaders not to politicize the issue.

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

Mr. Vishnu said that the police is not allowing them to submit a statement on the alleged malpractice and corruption in the DSC sports quota recruitment.

Video: GN Rao pic.twitter.com/ECtHexTPqe

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) September 21, 2026

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

Published – 21 Sep 2026 13:03 IST