Ravela creates a stir in TDP

Guntur: Former social welfare minister Ravela Kishore Babu has created mild tremors again in the Telugu Desam party cadre by his statement at Gurram Jashuva’s statue unveiling function in Prathipadu on Thursday. He said that resignation from his MLA seat is the only option left to him if any one obstructs the tours and campaigns of MRPS founder Mandan Krishna Madiga in the state.

Highlights:

• Former social welfare minister issued a statement that resignation from his MLA seat is the only option left to him if any one obstructs the tours and campaigns of MRPS founder Mandan Krishna Madiga in AP
• Observers say that it is actually a turf war that has erupted between Kishore Babu and Nakka Ananda Babu as both hail from the SC community

The former minister participated in the function along with Manda Krishna while eulogising the former’s service to the cause of Scheduled Castes classification in general and uniting the Madiga community in particular.Ravelawas once a strong opponent of Manda Krishna’s agitation and many a times he publicly criticised the divisive attitude of the MRPS movement as `against to the broader interest of the downtrodden’, but his recent resignation statement which is unconditionally supporting Manda Krishna found too many people surprised, rather shocked.

MRPS cadre were reminded of the days when Ravela was a cabinet minister, as in his constituency several police cases were registered against them to silence their voices. What caused him to change his mind is a mystery, one of the Madiga youth wing activists quipped. And in recent times there were rumours that Ravela is one of the sponsors for the failed Kurukshetram meeting which was planned near Mangalagiri recently. And some accused that Ravela camp is working fulltime to spread various fake news that he is meeting Pawan Kalyan and he is negotiating with YS Jagan and more.

It is a well-known fact Ravela’s minister post was given to Nakka Anandbabu, who is also from SC community, and from Guntur district too after few controversies surrounded the former social welfare minister’s family. This ultimately caused his resignation from Chandrababu Naidu’s Cabinet. Observers say after losing his cabinet berth Ravela is resorting to different activities to prove that he is the only option for the MLA seat and the undisputed leader for his community.

But the interesting fact about the Jashuva’s statue unveiling function at Turpupalem, Prathipadu is both Manda Krishna and Ravela Kishore Babu are at their best while showering praises on the chief minister and described themselves as the saviours of the society. Despite these praises, Ravela made an emotional statement to the effect if any one disrupts the tours of the MRPS founder President Manda Krishna, he will resign to the MLA post as gesture of protest.

When contacted to comment on the statement of former social welfare minister, local MLC Dokka Manikya Varaprasad’s camp declined to issue any statement and Ravela’s camp maintaining stoic silence, but Dharmarao,incharge of Guntur District MRPS said, that Madiga community is with MandaKrishna,and they will express their dissent in the coming elections. Another vocal leader of Telugu Desam party who too belongs to the Madiga caste said it is too early to comment on Ravela’s statement and there is ample time for him to introspect on his behaviour and public speeches