: Stung by the defection of four of the six party MLAs to the Telugu Desam Party in Prakasam district, the YSR Congress has begun a damage control exercise.
Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has assigned the onerous task to State general secretary Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, who represented Ongole for four successive terms before losing to political greenhorn D. Janardhana Rao of the TDP.
With Giddalur MLA M. Ashok Reddy quitting the party to join the ruling party, Mr. Jagan has directed Mr. Srinivasa Reddy, who has been maintaining a low profile ever since he suffered a shock defeat in the 2014 poll, to stem the rot and put the party back on track in the district, considered the most important by the leadership after Kadapa district.
Mr. Jagan has directed another four-time MLA B.Ch. Garataiah to take over the party reins in the faction-ridden Addanki Assembly constituency. He would focus on strengthening the party at the grassroots after taking charge on June 25, Mr. Garataiah asserted.
Mr.Srinivasa Reddy, who will assume charge as district president here on June 30, will hold consultations with second-rung leaders before finalising the party leaders to be in charge of the three other Assembly seats of Giddalur, Kandukur and Yerragondapalem, according to party sources.
The party has asked YSRC MLA from S.N. Padu A. Suresh to look after Yerragondapalem for the time being, while weighing the options before it in Giddalur, where party leaders Sai Kalpana Reddy and Chegireddy Linga Reddy have thrown their hats in the ring, the party sources said.
Decision on leaders
after Jagan’s return
The leadership is also contemplating roping in former Minister M. Mahidhar Reddy of the Congress to head the party in the Kandukur Assembly in an effort to get closer to the people. The party would take a decision on leaders in charge on Mr. Jagan’s return from London where he is holidaying, party sources said. “The party’s support base is in tact. Some MLAs leaving the party will not affect its prospects as the people are waiting for an opportunity to punish the MLAs who switched sides with ulterior political motives,” said Ongole MP Y.V. Subba Reddy. If all those who had defected to the TDP quit their posts and faced byelections, the YSRC would win hands down, he asserted.
