Anantapur: The YSRC is said to be keen on changing candidates in several segments of the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Anantapur and Sathyasai districts. The party will field “a formidable candidate,” the official said.
Some of the ruling party’s MLAs and MPs were embroiled in controversy, alleging corrupt practices. Many of these representatives faced opposition from within the party leadership. Keeping this in mind, YSRC regional coordinator Peddireddy Ramachandra is keen on finding new faces to participate in the polls.
For these reasons, the party high command wanted to change the parliamentary candidates for Anantapur and Hindupur, sources said. After considering these equations, the party high command may introduce new candidates for parliamentary seats.
Shankara Narayana, the sitting MLA from Penukonda and former minister, is considering contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Hindupur this time as he faces opposition in the Congress. However, it is likely that a new candidate will be fielded to take on the TD candidate.
Gorantla Madhav, the sitting MP from Hindupur, was embroiled in a controversy that “tarnished” the party’s image a few months ago. He may not be allowed to contest elections from the same Lok Sabha constituency for a second time. His close aides have started searching for MLA tickets for them from Kurnool district.
Similarly, a senior leader and sitting MLA from Anantapur district was aiming to contest the LS polls from Anantapur as he might not win an assembly seat this time. Incumbent MP Talari Rangaiah is facing opposition from Kalyandurg minister Ushasri Charan.
While Deepika has already been appointed as the Hindupur Congress unit chief, the party has sidelined MLC Mohd Iqbal. She may face a tough fight against her film star and sitting MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna (TD), YSRC officials said.
Some YSRC leaders say the party’s prospects in Hindupur have improved after Peddireddy Ramachandra took the issue seriously.
The YSRC high command had previously considered fielding members of some clans in two seats, but there will be fewer such considerations this time. This may affect candidate selection in Dharmavaram and Tadipatri regions. Incumbent MLA Venkatrami Reddy represents Dharmavaram, and his paternal uncle Peda Reddy is Tadipatri MLA, but this time the party is likely to field Venkatrami, who is from Tadipatri. The contest there will be tough considering the candidature of rival party’s JC Prabhakar Reddy.
According to sources, if the current table is changed, ZP vice president Madhusudan Reddy will contest the Dharmavaram assembly election.
