VIJAYAWADA: How did local MP Lagadapati Rajagopal clinch the deal in getting his loyalist Mallika Begum enthroned as city Mayor? It was the result of a year-long exercise. Ms. Begum is the sister of one Imamuddin, a classmate of Mr. Rajagopal during school days in Guntur.

Mr. Rajagopal, wittingly or unwittingly, had himself branded as one spearheading the "shouting brigade" in the Krishna district Congress. He strained his relations with Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy initially by dashing off missives raising pointers at the contracts of a few irrigation projects. However, he seemed to have picked up the proverbial threads from the very point he had lost them. In a bid to mend fences, the MP attained the posture of a rabble-rouser by espousing the cause of the trading community and dwellers on canal bunds.

He assured the canal bund dwellers that any attempt to shift them would be vehemently opposed. Besides, he made the trading community of one-town, which had to vacate the place and relocate itself in the Gollapudi wholesale market yard, rally behind him to voice their concerns.

Attention-drawing

By making taunting remarks against Siddipet MLA Sarve Satyanarayana and by precipitating the matter to the extent of forcing the AICC to intervene, Mr. Rajagopal drew the attention of the party high command.

Though his suggestion that the party can garner the support of minority voters in the Karimnagar byelection by elevating a minority community candidate in Vijayawada as Mayor was derided, he "convinced" party legislators from the city of his argument. Grudgingly though, MLAs Vangaveeti Radhakrishna and Devineni Nehru had to swallow the bitter pill.

This was evident from the very remarks of Mr. Nehru that "though it was unfortunate, we have to abide by the decision of the party," after the election of Ms. Begum.

For, both legislators almost succeeded in having their candidate elected Mayor, before their plan was frustrated by Mr. Rajagopal.

Interestingly, the equations within the city Congress are bound to attain new dimensions and the group dynamics are likely to change.

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