Former Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy had a few friends in this politically sensitive district but he did try to be accommodative to some first-time MLAs.
Senior Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana was seen as someone who was close to Mr. Reddy in the initial days, but towards the end of year, the relationship soured as Kanna was projected as a contender for CM’s chair. Mr. Lakshminarayana invited Mr. Reddy inaugurate a pylon for grounding the comprehensive drinking water project in August 2011.
Assuages Dokka The other leader from SC community, Dokka Manikya Vara Prasada Rao, had never enjoyed a cordial relationship with Mr. Reddy and had even taken him on towards the end of his tenure. Mr. Reddy tried to assuage the latter’s feelings by launching the government’s flagship programme -- SC & ST Sub Plan -- in Phirangipuram mandal of Tadikonda constituency in April 2013.
That left Kasu Krishna Reddy, senior MLA Gade Venkat Reddy and Y. Venkateswara Reddy to have enjoyed the confidence of Kiran. Mr. Reddy reached out to first-time MLAs Sk. Mastan Vali, Kandru Kamala obliging them with major works in the constituencies. The last major development work inaugurated by Mr. Reddy was the Inner Ring Road-Phase 1 designed by VGTM-UDA. Mr. Reddy had made fewer visits to the politically sensitive district than his predecessors, K. Rosaiah and Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy, but his last visit to dedicate the K.L Rao Sagar Multipurpose Project (Pulichintala) on December 7 last year would be etched in the memory of people for a long time. Mr. Reddy was accompanied by Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar and other Ministers as he dedicated the project when the agitation in Seemandhra against bifurcation was at its peak and later left for Vijayawada where he addressed a public meeting.
During three years, Mr. Reddy had visited the district five times.
He made a whirlwind tour of the cyclone-affected areas in Bapatla mandal on October 28 and later addressed a review meeting.
The CM launched the flagship programme, SC & ST Sub Plan, at a meeting held at Phirangipuram in which he unveiled an ambitious programme allocating Rs.12,251 crore for SC & ST Sub Plan.
He also announced the decision to scale up grant to SC/ST beneficiaries allotted houses under Indiramma housing scheme.
