Andhra Pradesh: An under-construction central office building of YSR Congress Party was demolished by the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority in the early hours of Saturday.
The office was located in the Tadepalli area in the Guntur district of the State.
According to the authorities, the building was being constructed on land that was allegedly acquired illegally.
The YSRCP has accused the ruling Telugu Desam Party of indulging in "vendetta politics."
It alleged that the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) and Mangalagiri Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC) went ahead with the demolition even though it had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday, challenging the actions of the CRDA and said that the court had ordered a halt to any demolition activity.
YSRCP said in a statement that the under-construction office was demolished despite the high court order and called the action a contempt of court.
"This unprecedented action, the first instance of a party office being demolished in the state's history, commenced around 5:30 am using excavators and bulldozers," the YSRCP said.
YSRCP said the High Court had ordered a halt to any kind of demolition activity and the order was conveyed to the CRDA Commissioner by the YSRCP's lawyer.
"However, the CRDA proceeded with the demolition, potentially amounting to contempt of court," the party said.
"The demolished structure was prepared for a slab before being razed. The CRDA'S defiance of the High Court's directive may now draw further legal scrutiny," the YSRCP added.
The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP was in power in the state till last month.
However, the party lost power after suffering a major drubbing in the Assembly polls, which were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections.
Telugu Desam Party stormed to power after the recent elections with its leader Chandrababu Naidu taking oath as the Chief Minister for the fourth time. (with Agency inputs)
