Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should leave the Nandyal Assembly seat to the YSR Congress in the ensuing by-election as people had elected Bhuma Nagi Reddy, whose demise necessitated the election, on the YSR Congress ticket, Anantha Venkatarami Reddy, former MP and party leader, asserted on Thursday.
Addressing the YSR Congress district plenary here, he said the Chief Minister spoke about convention. Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was aware of the convention, and hence the ruling party should facilitate the unanimous election of the YSR Congress’ nominee.
Asking if engineering defection of 21 YSR Congress legislators into the TDP was the convention, Mr. Venkatararami said his party was prepared to go for a contest if Mr. Naidu failed to follow the convention.
The by-election was likely to be conducted in August and the party rank and file should ensure the victory of the party’s candidate and give a message that the party was all set to sweep the 2019 elections and also win the Kuppam Assembly seat, Mr. Reddy said.
‘Jagan is next CM’
Leaders who spoke at the plenary exuded confidence that the YSR Congress would win the Nandyal Assembly seat and go on to gain power in the next elections by routing the TDP. They maintained that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy would become the next Chief Minister of the State.
They charged Mr. Naidu with encouraging defections, political murders and foisting cases against Opposition party functionaries.
The Chief Minister’s promise of making Kurnool a smart city, completing irrigation projects, developing Kurnool general hospital on a par with AIIMS and constructing a Haj House had remained unfulfilled, they said.
Former Minister Silpa Mohan Reddy said he quit the TDP as there was no freedom to talk about issues and no respect for leaders from the leadership.
Nandyal municipal chairperson Desam Sulochana, who also quit the TDP, said officials violated protocol by not inviting her to the Chief Minister’s programme on Thursday and gave prominence only to TDP leaders.
Twenty resolutions on continuation of agitation for Special Category Status (SCS), scrapping of Janmabhoomi Committees, full-fledged loan waiver for farmers, DWCRA members and handloom weavers, etc. were passed.
Party observer and Tirupati MP Varaprasada Rao, Kurnool MP Butta Renuka and MLAs P. Raveendranath Reddy (Kamalapuram), PAC chairman B. Rajendranath Reddy (Dhone), Gauru Charitha Reddy (Panyam), S. Aisaiah (Nandikotkur), Y. Balanagi Reddy (Mantralayam) and G. Jayaram (Alur) spoke.
Party district president Gauru Venkata Reddy presided. MLC V. Gopal Reddy and State general secretary B.Y. Ramaiah were among others present.
