Aya Rams Gaya Rams set to twirl AP politics
Amaravati: The ‘Aya Ram Gaya Ram’ culture has gained pace in Andhra Pradesh with the Assembly polls around the corner in the state. What matters for the leaders is ‘will I get the chance to contest from the constituency of my choice or not’. Party ideologies come later.
While two TDP leaders -- Chirala MLA Amanchi Krishnamohan and Anakapalle MP A Srinivasa Rao -- switched loyalties to the YSRCP in the last two days as they came to the conclusion that they will not get tickets to contest the elections, industrialist from Vijayawada Dasari Jairamesh met YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad on Friday.
Some prominent names that are making rounds in the political circles include Maganti Srinivas (Babu) and Thota Trimurthulu. However, both Srinivas and Trimurthulu on Friday evening clarified that they were not going to quit the TDP. Political circles say that MLA G Ravi Kumar from Prakasam district who had earlier migrated from the YSRCP to the TDP is planning to go back to the YRCP. He fears that he may not be considered for Addanki seat. Similarly, Guntur-2 MLA M Venugopala Reddy is keen to contest from the Narsaraopet Lok Sabha seat.
If the party does not agree for it, he may also join the YSRCP. As senior MLA he had expected a berth in the cabinet but due to various reasons like community equations, etc, he could not be accommodated. It is being said that Jaganmohan Reddy has authorised party leader Vijayasai Reddy to tap TDP leaders with whom he had business links in the past and are now in the TDP and see that they migrate to the YSRCP.
All is not well with the YSRCP as well. Kasu Krishna Reddy and his son Mahesh Reddy are said to be in talks with the TDP. Kasu family is popular in Guntur district. When father and son duo joined the YSRCP, they wanted Narsaraopet Assembly seat. At that time, YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy told them that he would consider that before the elections. But now it seems that Jagan wants Mahesh to contest from the Gurjala Assembly seat. Meanwhile, the TDP has been in touch with them and is said to be willing to offer Narsaraopet seat.
The Chief Minister is said to have discussed the issue with Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, who had agreed to the entry of Kasu family into the TDP. If that happens Kasu Mahesh will contest from Narsaraopet and Kodela from Sattenapalli. The father and son duo are likely to join the TDP next week.
Interestingly, YSRCP leaders like Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Vanteru Venugopal Reddy of Nellore district are contemplating to join the TDP. Kurnool stalwart and Congress senior leader Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy along with his family will join the TDP soon, according to a statement by his son Raghavendra Reddy. Both Suryaprakash Reddy and his wife will contest the elections. Raghavendra Reddy said that he will not be contesting this time.
Another prominent leader in Kadapa district D L Ravindra Reddy is also planning to join the TDP soon. TDP sources said DL has worked out an action plan to implement ‘Operation Akarsh’ to attract second-line leaders from the YRCP into the TDP.