Vangaveeti Radha to leave YSRCP?

Vijayawada: The rumours went viral in the social media and also in political circles here that Vangaveeti Ranga's son and former MLA Radhakrishna may shift his loyalties from YSR Congress to Jana Sena or Telugu Desam.

The news assumed significance in political circles as Vangaveeti family has huge fan following in the city. Since Vangaveeti Radhakrishna lost in the last Assembly elections contesting from Vijayawada East constituency on YSR Congress party ticket, he has not been active in city politics
for some time.

He has not been playing an active role in party activities though he continues in YSR Congress Party. Recently the YSR Congress has invited two former MLAs Velampalli Srinivas and Malladi Vishnu into their party. But the party did not take Vangaveeti Radhakrishna into confidence before admitting the former MLAs into the party.

Moreover, Velampalli Srinivas has been given city party leadership while Malladi Vishnu is being considered by the party circles as the party candidate to contest from Vijayawada Central constituency in 2019 elections.

In this backdrop, former MLA Radhakrishna, who is keen to contest from Vijayawada Central constituency, was not pleased over the developments. He may choose the next course of action soon, said one senior Congress leader who is close to Vangaveeti family.

On condition of anonymity, he also said that if the top leadership of YSR Congress discusses the situation with Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, the situation might change.

However, Radhakrishna is not available over phone for clarification on the ongoing controversy. But some of his close circles condemned the rumours on his behalf though Radhakrishna did not come to the media. Actually the rumour mill claimed that he would join the ruling TDP on January 22.

But his followers rejected it stating that how he can join Telugu Desam when his arch rivals, Devineni Nehru family members, are already in TDP. Finally, one section of Vangaveeti followers stated that he may opt to join Jana Sena party soon.

They pointed out that film hero Pawan Kalyan praised Vangaveeti Ranga during his recent visit to the city. On the other hand, the same situation prevailed regarding the political future of former MLA Yalamanchili Ravi. Though he is in Telugu Desam now, his prospects seem to be bleak to get party ticket in the next election due to heavy competition from the sitting MLAs and new entrants in the party.

In this backdrop, the followers of Yalamanchili Ravi are also forcing him to join YSR Congress or Jana Sena. Yalamanchili Ravi's close relative Ramana speaking to The Hans India said that he wants to contest in the next elections in the interest of huge number of followers of his family.

By Patibandla Srinivas