Change of guard irks YSRCP leaders

Vijayawada: The decision of YSR Congress Party to change constituency persons in-charge has caused a new trouble to the party leaders in Krishna district. Recently, the YSR Congress Party changed persons in-charge (or coordinators) for four constituencies after YS Jaganmohan Reddy completed walkathon in the district.

Now, the situation seems that the changes are likely to impact on the prospects of YSR Congress Party. The party leaders changed coordinators for Vijayawada East, Central, Mylavaram and Pedana constituencies. The decisions were taken a few months ago but the developments are still a debating topic in political circles.

Former MLA Jogi Ramesh worked as Mylavaram constituency in-charge for four years. Recently, he has been shifted to Pedana constituency. While Vasanta Krishna Prasad was appointed as in-charge of Mylavaram constituency.

The leadership of YSRCP believes that Vasanta would be a strong opponent to Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. Presently, Umamaheswara Rao is representing Mylavaram constituency. In this backdrop, former MLA Jogi Ramesh was changed from Mylavaram to Pedana as constituency in-charge. So far, Uppada Ramprasad has continued as in-charge of the party Pedana constituency.

Now, he was replaced with Jogi Ramesh. The rank and file of the party expressed displeasure in the two constituencies. One close aide of Jogi Ramesh on condition of anonymity said that how the party persons in-charge were removed though they worked for strengthening the party since four years. Similarly, party Pedana constituency in-charge Uppada Ramprasad is also unhappy about the developments.

His followers expressed dissatisfaction over the ongoing developments in the party. They wondered as to how the party leadership changed constituency in-charge persons without taking into consideration of their last four years service to party.

Likewise, Vijayawada Central constituency in-charge P Goutam Reddy and East constituency in-charge Boppana Bhava Kumar were also removed from their positions. Both the leaders spent a huge money and time for party development in their constituencies. Goutam Reddy contested from Central constituency in the last election while Bhava Kumar was given assurance for ticket for contesting in next elections.

According to sources, Bhava Kumar was not active since his removal. Now the party leadership is making plans to appoint him as party city in-charge replacing former MLA Velampalli Srinivas. But Velampalli Srinivas is keen to continue in the post. Apart from this, there are some disputes between two former MLAs Vangaveeti Radhakrishna and Malladi Vishnu. Both the leaders represented the Central constituency in the past.

But now, Radhakrishna has been given assurance to contest from Central constituency. Former corporator of YSR Congress Party said it is doubtful how the internal disputes would be solved. He also said the prospects of party are being damaged following the developments.