Council poll: Congress seeks TDP support in Kadapa

KADAPA: Finding it difficult to finalise a suitable candidate for the Council elections from the Kadapa Local Authorities Constituency (LAC), the Congress is desperately trying to garner support from all possible quarters.

Its desperation was evident when Housing Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana visited the Telugu Desam Party office in Rajampet town and held discussions with former MLA K. Madanmohan Reddy to seek his support for the Congress for the Council elections.

Snatches initiative

The Jagan camp had snatched the initiative by naming C. Narayan Reddy as its nominee while the ruling party was in the process of announcing former MLA N. Varadarajulu Reddy as it candidate. The ruling party’s dilemma stems from the fact a majority of its MLAs are now with Jagan and no different is the loyalties of the mandal and ZP representatives. Barring Ministers — D.L.Ravindra Reddy, Md. Ahmedullah and Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy and Kamalapuram MLA G.Veerasiva Reddy, others are sailing with Mr. Jagan. Mr. Lakshminarayana at the meeting urged the ex-MLA to muster support of the TDP’s ZPTC and MPTC members in Rajampet constituency as it was not contesting the elections. Later, Mr. Lakshminarayana told reporters that Dr. Madanmohan Reddy was a good friend of his and he invited him for a cup of coffee.

Declines comment

The former MLA declined to comment.

The Housing Minister called on former MLA S. Palakondarayudu at Rayachoti seeking TDP’s support. Out of 623 votes in Kadapa district, the TDP enjoys the support of only 122 elected representatives and has, therefore, decided not to contest the election.

As a result, the TDP’s voters are divided between the Congress and Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy.

Jagan camp upbeat

Special Correspondent in Hyderabad reports: Sources in Jagan camp said rebel MLAs were exploring the possibility of fielding a candidate to be elected by the Assembly. Leaders are exuding confidence that with 26 Congress MLAs and two MLAs each from the Praja Rajyam and the TDP openly aligning with the former MP, it would be a cake walk for their candidate. A decision whether to field the candidate or not is likely to be taken once Mr. Jagan is back from New Delhi.

(The Hindu)