Jagan gave nod to contest from Atmakur: Goutham 

Nellore: Atmakur sitting MLA and YSRCP leader Mekapati Goutham Reddy announced again that he would be contesting from the Atmakur constituency as directed by party chief. He addressed the media at Atmakur here on Tuesday.

He also indicated that the sitting ZP Chairman B Raghavendra Reddy, who has been busy with ground work in Venkatagiri constituency for contesting in the ensuing polls is not being considered.

It may be recalled that there were apprehensions on probable candidates for Atmakur and Venkatagiri constituencies after TDP leader Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and BJP leader Nedurumalli Ramkumar Reddy shifted their loyalties to the opposition.

Sources said sitting MLA of Atmakur, M Goutham Reddy, had informally announced earlier in a meeting with party chief Jagan that he would offer the constituency in case of any urgency for adjustment. 

Consequently, there were rumours that Ramanarayana Reddy would be offered Atmakur constituency. But, Goutham Reddy categorically announced that he would not leave the constituency and finally settled on it.

Freshly, he conducted a media conference in Atmakur and declared that Jagan had asked him to contest from the same place. At the same time, he expressed unhappiness over alleged difficulty for not considering candidature of ZP Chairman B Raghavendra Reddy from Venkatagiri where Nedurumalli Ramkumar likely to contest. He also said they had informed to the party chief on such issues and were waiting for the response.