YSRCP to consolidate its base

Vijayawada: The YSR Congress leadership has decided to consolidate its vote bank first by focusing on giving tickets to leaders of particular sections. 

YSRCP president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy recently changed his stand during Praja Sankalpa yatra in East Godavari following the suggestions given by the political strategist Prashant Kishor. Now, the party is finalising its candidates from the particular sections. 

The party sources say under the new strategy, Vangaveeti Radhakrishna has been set aside from the Vijayawada Central Assembly constituency. It may be recalled the YSRCP got overwhelming support from Scheduled Castes, Muslims and Reddy community in the past. Many people from backward class and a sizable number of people from Kapus have also extended support to YSRCP.

However, the party surveys revealed the YSRCP will get meagre votes from Kapus and Jana Sena and Telugu Desam will get majority share of votes. This has driven the YSRCP to consolidate its favourable vote bank first. 

According to sources, Jaganmohan Reddy made comments against Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan during the tour in East Godavari district as part of political strategy and changing political priorities. 

Previously also the surveys revealed that former MLA Malladi Vishnu was better positioned in Vijayawada Central Assembly constituency but the party selected Vangaveeti Radhakrishna according to his wish taking into consideration of Kapu vote bank and Vangaveeti Ranga’s popularity in the particular caste.

Similarly, the YSRCP wants to select candidates based on survey reports and revised political strategy. One senior leader of YSRCP on condition of anonymity said the nominees for assembly elections were being finalised after thoroughly checking that they will be representing the particular section, their winnability chances in the elections and depending upon local favourable conditions.