Political activity hots up in Kurnool, Kadapa

Amaravati: With elections not very far, hectic political activity for seats is being witnessed, particularly in Kurnool district and Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district.

The reports that Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, who resigned from the Congress, was likely to join TDP has created ripples among other aspirants in the party. It is learnt that Kotla wants the Kurnool Lok Sabha for himself and the Dhone Assembly ticket for his family members. This is being strongly opposed by the group led by Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurty. KE is also staking claim on the Dhone assembly seat for his brother KE Prabhakar.

This has become a contentious issue prompting TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu to resolve it amicably. Naidu met the Deputy Chief Minister, his brother KE Prabhakar and constituency in-charge late on Wednesday evening. It may be mentioned here that for decades the Kotla family and KE family have been political rivals. Another contender for the Kurnool seat is Butta Renuka who had won Lok Sabha seat in 2014 from YSRCP party and joined TDP.

Another seat which was posing problem for TDP was Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district. Minister Adinarayana Reddy and MLC Ramasubba Reddy are strong contenders for Jammalamadugu. Though Naidu had asked them to decide who would contest for Lok Sabha and Assembly, they could not arrive at any conclusion and both are eyeing the Assembly seat. In all probability, Adinarayana Reddy may be asked to contest for Lok Sabha. The minister it is said is not averse to this proposal.

Adinaryana Reddy entered politics in 2004 and won as MLA on Congress ticket from the Jammalamadugu constituency. He got re-elected in 2009. In 2014, he won from the same constituency on YSRCP ticket and later crossed over to TDP and became a minister. In all the three elections, Ramasubba Reddy was his nearest opponent.

On the other hand, Chirala MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan is all set to quit TDP and join YSRCP. Mohan was a close associate of the former Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah and had won from Chirala in 2009 on Congress ticket. After bifurcation of the state in 2014, he contested as a candidate from Navodaya party and won the election. 

Later, he joined TDP. But for past some time, he has been moving closer to YSRCP and claims that he was unable to adjust in TDP and that he was facing problems with local leaders. He also alleged that the party leadership was also encouraging his rivals in the party.

He is also upset that Pothula Sunitha, who had contested against him and lost in 2014, has been made an MLC and was appointed as TDP Mahila president. Minister Sidda Raghav Rao had met Amanchi on Tuesday and paved the way for meeting with Naidu. He is likely to meet Naidu on Thursday.