Dashing the hopes of the Telugu Desam Party of getting its candidate Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy elected unanimously in the bypoll to the Nandyal Assembly constituency, the YSR Congress leadership announced the former Minister Silpa Mohan Reddy as its nominee on Sunday.
Mr. Mohan Reddy, who joined the YSRC on June 14, was not only given the ticket but was also nominated party coordinator of the constituency within two weeks. Similarly, Gangula Prabhakara Reddy of Allagadda, who also quit the TDP, was given the MLC ticket in the MLAs’ quota within a week of joining the party and was unanimously elected to the Legislative Council.
The bypoll, caused by the death of Bhuma Nagi Reddy on March 12, would take place before September 12 and both the parties have taken it prestigiously. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu hosted an Iftar on June 21, laid foundation stones for works worth ₹1,124 crore and made a night halt in Nandyal to gear up the party rank and file for the poll.
YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had elaborate discussions with district president Gauru Venkata Reddy, party MLAs and leaders on Mr. Mohan Reddy’s candidature.
Municipal chairperson Desam Sulochana and about 20 councillors quit the TDP and joined the YSRC along with Mr. Mohan Reddy. However, the TDP leaders claimed to have managed to bring back 11 councillors into the party fold.
The chairperson and the councillors were served notices, said TDP district president Somisetty Venkateswarlu and the party would soon move a no-confidence motion to oust Ms. Sulochana.
The ruling party has plans to make vice-chairman Gangisetty Vijaya Kumar as chairman.
