Killi entry irks YSRCP leaders

Srikakulam: Congress senior leader and former Central minister Dr Killi Kruparani and her husband Killi Rammohan Rao entry into YSRCP may lead to a fresh controversy within the party in the district. The Killi couple met YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad on Tuesday and from there they announced that they would join YSRCP on February 28 and sent their resignation letters to the Congress party high command.

For the first time, Kruparani won in 2009 elections as MP on Congress ticket from Srikakulam segment by defeating senior leader K Yerrannaidu of TDP and later she was elevated as Union Minister. She set to join YSRCP to contest as an MLA from her native Tekkali Assembly segment or as an MP from Srikakulam segment. To win in Tekkali she must work hard as her rival is key leader in TDP and transport minister K Atchannaidu.

She needs support of existing YSRCP leaders Duvvada Srinivas and Perada Tilak. Kruparani has been elevated as a leader in Congress with blessings of the then Congress leader and present YSRCP leader Dharmana Prasada Rao. But with her entry into YSRCP, Dharmana followers in Tekkali segment Perada Tilak has to sacrifice their seat. Another leader and rival of Dharmana, Duvvada Srinivas need to support her.

If Kruparani win over Atchannaidu, she will get good elevation which will be a threat to another senior leader in YSRCP Tammineni Sitaram who is waiting for good position. If Kruparani choose Srikakulam parliament seat, she may not get required support of leaders of all seven assembly segments, Ithcapuram, Palasa, TeKKali, Narasannapeta, Srikakulam, Amudalavalasa and Pathapatnam due her passive attitude as Central minister previously. She may not get even full support of her own Kalinga caste voters as she did nothing to them as Union minister. In this backdrop her entry may lead to controversy than better winning chances of YSRCP in the coming elections.