City politics may take new turn

-    Former MLA Yalamanchali Ravi likely to join YSR Congress
-    New challenges to party leadership due to dual leadership in two segments

Vijayawada: Politics in the city is likely to take a new turn once the walkathon launched by YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy enters the city in April. According to sources, some political developments may take place in the YSR Congress Party during YS Jaganmohan Reddys city tour. Former MLA and TDP leader Yalamanchali Ravi is likely to join the YSRCP in the second week of April.

According to sources, the former MLA will join YSR Congress Paraty when YS Jagan’s walkathon enters Krishna district. Indeed, his followers in the state said that Ravi may join any time between April 2 and 10. He is one of the aspirants for YSR Congress Vijayawada East Constituency ticket.

B Bhava Kumar, who is working as the party in-charge for the Assembly segment for the past few months, and another leader VVR Chowdary are in the race. Now, the entry of Ravi will increase the competition among the three leaders. But Ravi’s family has a good image compared to other two leaders of the party.

Ravi’s father Yalamanchali Nageswara Rao was elected on the Telugu Desam Party ticket in the past. But Ravi was elected to the Assembly on the Praja Rajyam Party ticket for the first time. Later, he could not get a ticket after the merger of Praja Rajyam into Congress. He joined the Telugu Desam Party a few days before the last Assembly elections. 

Actually, the TDP leadership suggested to him to remain in the party and also gave him an assurance of a nominated post. 

Senior TDP MLA Gadde Rammohan is representing Vijayawada East Constituency.  In this backdrop, the Telugu Desam is not in a position to give ticket to Yalamanchali Ravi. On the other hand, party in-charge Bhava Kumar and other leaders may oppose former MLA Ravi’s entry into the YSR Congress since they are also aspirants. So, the leadership of YSR Congress would face more controversies following new developments.   

Already, the YSR Congress Party is facing similar problem in Vijayawada Central constituency. Two former MLAs Malladi Vishnu and Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, along with previous contestant P Goutam Reddy are the aspirants for central constituency party ticket. But Goutam Reddy was suspended from the party following the controversial comments that he made against the former MLA, the late Vangaveeti Ranga.  Now, Vishnu and Radhakrishna are in the race and already both the leaders are making plans to outwit their opponent.

One close relative of Yalamanchali Ravi speaking to The Hans India, here on Friday said that he would join YSR Congress in the second week of April. He also said that the dates were not finalised so far. 

Patibandla Srinivas