Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi has responded to criticism by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan - whose Jana Sena is allied with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party. Mr Kalyan had accused her of "incompetence" and warned he would take over her portfolio.
The warning came amid a spike in crimes against women and children.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Ms Vangalapudi refused to be alarmed by the harsh comment and said she viewed the Deputy Chief Minister's words as encouragement and not criticism.
"Pawan Kalyan asked, 'Will you not arrest if an accused belongs to a particular caste?' I have taken his comments very positively. I have responsibility. I hold a critical portfolio. It is like he is backing me up, saying you can go ahead more aggressively," she declared.
The Home Minister also said her critics - which now include opposition YSR Congress Party leader Roja, who has demanded Ms Vangalapudi's resignation - had not understood the context of the remarks, and "are just thrilled that he (Mr Kalyan) said something about me..."
On Monday Pawan Kalyan, addressing a rally in his Pithapuram constituency, warned Ms Vangalapudi he would take over her portfolio if the law-and-order in the state does not improve.
READ | Pawan Kalyan Takes On Ally TDP, Warns Andhra Home Minister
The warning included praise for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's record in combating crime in his state, which recorded 65,743 cases of crimes against women in 2022 - the most of any state in the country - according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
"You (Ms Vangalapudi) are the Home Minister... discharge your duties well or I will be forced to take over Home Department as well," Mr Kalyan - who has taken a hard right stance on topics, including the 'sanatan dharm' row triggered by his Tamil Nadu counterpart, Udhayanidhi Stalin - declared.
"You need to be like Yogi Adityanath. MLAs are not just here to ask for votes. You have responsibilities too. Everybody needs to think... It is not that I cannot ask for or take over Home Department. If I do, things will be very different... we have to be like Yogi Adityanath."
Jumping on his criticism, YSRCP leader Roja, who was the Tourism Minister in the previous Jagan Reddy government, demanded that Ms Vangalapudi resign.
"We have been saying this (what Mr Kalyan said). And now Deputy Chief Minister has said Home Minister has failed to ensure law and order in the state. In just 120 days (there have been) over 100 incidents of attacks on women. What is the Home Minister going to say about this?"
"Pawan Kalyan pointed to her incompetence. This government has not used the Disha mobile phone app (for women's safety) or women-only police stations brought in by the YSRCP government. Will Home Minister resign?" she asked.
The fresh political storm comes close on the heels of allegations animal fat was used make laddoos, or devotional offerings, 'fed' to the deity and given to devotees at the temple in Tirupati.
Pawan Kalyan's outburst - which included demanding action from the police and a warning to TDP and Jana Sena leaders to work together - followed a horrific crime in Tirupati district.
A four-year-old child was allegedly raped and murdered by a family member.
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