There is speculation in political circles here over the possibility of the Magunta family joining the Telugu Desam Party and reassert their political strength in the Nellore district.
Magunta Srinivasula Reddy, who is the Ongole MP, is being suggested as the likely candidate of the TDP for the Nellore Lok Sabha seat in the coming general elections.
Leaders close to the Magunta family say that there is certainly a chance of their shifting loyalties considering the fact that the Congress party has lost considerable ground in Seemandhra region after its announcement on the bifurcation of the State.
These leaders say that if Mr. Srinivasula Reddy wants to contest from Nellore this time, the clear option will be contesting on the TDP ticket and take on the Mekapati family.
The TDP leaders are also eagerly looking forward to the entry of some strong leader in the Lok Sabha fray so that it will boost the morale of the party cadres ahead of elections.
When asked about the speculation about the Magunta family, a senior TDP leader said that he cannot talk about it as of now but he added that some clarity would emerge soon on whether or not their party was trying to rope in Mr. Srinivasula Reddy.
After the 2012 Nellore LS by-election, in which the YSR Congress won over the Congress with 2.91 lakh majority, the political scenario has changed dramatically in Nellore district.
The YSRC leaders started asserting that Nellore has become the second strongest district after Kadapa.
With Congress facing public wrath during Samaikyandhra agitation, the TDP district leadership has started focusing on regaining their strength to check the YSRC.
‘Yet to make up my mind’When asked about the possibility of contesting on TDP ticket, Mr. Magunta Srinivasula Reddy said that he has ‘not made up his mind’ on such issues as of now and that it is also too early to say anything regarding elections. “My immediate concern is how to help oppose the bifurcation Bill in the Parliament,” he said.
Expressing the hope that political equations and public mood would see many more changes in the next few weeks, Mr. Srinivasula Reddy said that it was true that Congress is in trouble in Seemandhra region after the decision on division of the State.
