Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Sunita launches campaign

Staff Reporter

Congress nominates new face for Penukonda byelection

ANANTAPUR: Two sets of nomination papers were filed on behalf of the Telugu Desam nominee, P. Sunita, for Penukonda Assembly by-election on Wednesday by the party activists -- B. Rangaiah and G. Parandham.

Ms. Sunita launched her campaigning officially at Tallimadugu village in Kanaganapalli mandal, as Wednesday was considered to be auspicious and her husband, P. Ravindra, had always commenced his campaign from the village.

The Congress leaders of the district are yet to react to the selection of G. Sriramulu, who is not much known in the party, as the candidate for by-election. A relative of the former Congress MP, S. Gangadhar, his political background is limited as the sarpanch of Guttur village of Penukonda mandal at present and a DCC functionary.

A graduate in Arts, Mr. Sriramulu has been active in the party activities for more than a decade and is known to be a staunch follower of Mr. Gangadhar. Party circles here opine that a last-minute truce between Mr. Gangadhar and G. Bhanumati against allowing a new comer like S. Padmalatha or B. Akkulappa to set the foot in might have clinched the issue in favour of Mr. Sriramulu.

While campaigning for Ms. Sunita has been on since the death of Ravindra in the form of condolence meetings, Mr. Sriramulu has to begin everything afresh.

His selection by the party will be a litmus test for the unity among party leaders not only in Penukonda constituency, but also in the district.

The support of Ms. Bhanumati will play a key role in deciding the fate of Mr. Sriramulu.

Maoist threat

Meanwhile, the Maoists have issued warning to the Congress leaders against campaigning for the by-election or face dire consequences. The district committee of the naxalite outfit has also issued an `ultimatum' to the Congress leaders holding party, elected and nominated posts to quit by May 15.

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Sunita launches campaign

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