Andhra Pradesh - Nellore   

MLC polls: Congress in a dicey situation

NELLORE: The group politics in Congress in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district might have an impact on the MLC elections going by the outcome in earlier polls and the back stabbing politics which has become a common feature in the district.

Congress is fielding the Nellore District Cooperative Central Bank (NDCCB) Chairman Vakati Narayana Reddy while Telugu Yuvata State president Beeda Ravichandra is in fray from Telugu Desam Party. The district has 588 MPTCs and 46 ZPTCs.

Jagan group's candidate Ramreddy Pratap Kumar Reddy, supported by Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Udayagiri MLA Mekapati Chandrashekara Reddy, Zilla Parishad Chairman Kakani Goverdhan Reddy, former District Congress Committee president Yellasiri Gopala Reddy and other leaders is contesting against the Congress and TDP candidates.

Mr. Narayana Reddy is banking on Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Nellore Rural MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy, Sarvepalli MLA Adala Prabhakara Reddy, MP Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, Gudur Congress party incharge Panabaka Krishnaiah and others to win the elections.

In 2009 Assembly elections, Mr. Panabaka Krishnaiah, husband of Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi, lost in the elections against his TDP rival Balli Durga Prasad. The Minister and her husband alleged that he lost due to the sabotage done by Mr.Janardhan Reddy and complained the matter to AICC President Sonia Gandhi.

In Nellore Town constituency, Congress candidate Poluboina Anil Kumar Yadav lost the elections with a margin of about 90 votes to. Praja Rajyam candidate Mungamuri Sridharkrishna Reddy. Mr. Anil Kumar Yadav alleged that then Nellore MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy campaigned against him and also brought the matter to the notice of the APCC.

The party suspended Udayagiri MLA Mr. Chandrashekara Reddy for working against the party candidate, C.V.Sesha Reddy in the previous MLC elections in the district.

In wake of these incidents, the party leaders doubt how far the ruling party leaders, who are fighting for domination in the district, will support Vakati Narayana Reddy, who is a follower of Mr. Janardhan Reddy.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Narayana Reddy said the party leaders including the Minister, MP and MLAs camped in the district and are supporting his candidature. He claimed the support of 350 MPTCs and ZPTCs and is confident of winning the polls.

Mr. Pratap Kumar Reddy too claims that he is having the backing of 300 MPTCs and 25 ZPTCs. “The Congress candidate is facing the same situation which prevailed in previous MLC elections. The whip issued by the party may make the MPTCs and ZPTCs to cast their vote compulsory, but may not prevent cross-voting,” said a senior leader .

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