One of the senior politicians of North Andhra Konathala Ramakrishna and his followers appear to be in a dilemma over choosing between Telugu Desam and BJP. Mr. Ramakrishna was a close associate of the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and a heavy weight in this region and extended lot of support to his son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy when he came out of Congress and later formed the YSR Congress. But post-May election developments saw Mr. Ramakrishna quitting the party.There were talks with the BJP but his entry was reportedly blocked by another former MP who helped BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, as Mr. Ramakrishna was the main strategist for Mr. Jagan’s mother Y.S. Vijayamma’s contest from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency. The party is also said to be not in favour of accommodating Mr. Ramakrishna’s close associate and former MLA Gandi Babji. TD leaders and workers at Anakapalle staged a protest when the leadership gave a hint of accepting Mr. Ramakrishna. They were ready to accept return of Dadi Veerabhadra Rao who joined YSRC but quit after elections.
Both BJP and TDP are also studying how many would follow Mr. Ramakrishna into the party. The mandal-level meetings he organised did not provide him a clear picture. The one at Chodavaram did not attract a big crowd while at the Munagapaka meeting majority of his followers felt TDP was a better bet.
Three YSRC MLAs, including his close associate K. Sarveswara Rao of Araku Valley, decided not to follow Mr. Ramakrishna.
The dilemma over Mr. Ramakrsihna’s future will continue unless a strong indication is given by either TDP or BJP. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu himself is reported to be willing to take in Mr. Ramakrishna if only to stall the chances of the BJP to take him.
