Realising the promise and clean image the youth hold, the YSR Congress (YSRC) is preferring young guns and new entrants compared to the tried and tested hands for Lok Sabha elections, as part of its plans to emerge as the formidable force in Seemandhra.
The party leadership is considering the names of young aspirants and former bureaucrats in more than half of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Seemandhra, where the party has high stakes. It is also examining the names of some industrialists including those who have long association with the party chief’s family. Sources in the party stated that the leadership had almost zeroed in on the probable young candidates for Araku (V. Geetha), Anakapalle (G. Amarnath), Ongole (B. Suresh Reddy), Tirupati (Varaprasad), Kurnool (B. Renuka), Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Hindupur seats. “Names of two young nominees – Y.S. Avinash Reddy for Kadapa and P. Mithun Reddy for Rajampet – have already been finalised by the party chief,” the sources said.
Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy is trying to tap the support of youth, who comprise about 30 per cent of the electorate in every Lok Sabha constituency, by addressing them the most during his ‘Odarpu Yatra’ and the ongoing election rallies in Coastal Andhra. He has been promising them of “bringing back Rajanna (YSR) Rajyam (rule)” which implemented fee-reimbursement scheme on saturation basis.
“The party believes that the Seemandhra youth, who are hurt by the way the State was divided, will decide the fortune of parties in the coming elections,” a senior YSR Congress leader from North Coastal Andhra said.
Thinking that former bureaucrats with proven track record will prove good leaders in democracy, the party is considering such candidates for Eluru (Thota Chandrasekhar) and Bapatla (retired IAS and IRS officers) seats, while it has finalised the names of industrialists Ayodhya Rami Reddy of Ramky Group for Narasaraopet and Koneru Rajendra Prasad of Trimex Group for Vijayawada. The names of sitting MPs – Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (Nellore), S.P.Y. Reddy (Nandyal) are certain. However, the party is finding it difficult to get the right candidate from backward classes’ community for Anantapur.
