Reported plans of YSRCP leader Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, son of assassinated Congress MLA and Kapu leader Mohana Ranga Rao, to cross over to the Telugu Desam, created a buzz in political circles on Wednesday. The issue was highlighted by vernacular channels in the morning. Though Mr. Radhakrishna was in town, he preferred to stay out of the media’s reach, adding strength to the speculation that he was indeed mulling the shift to the ruling party. His followers, speaking on his behalf, however wondered how their leader could join a party, said to be the cause for his father’s assassination. YSR Congress sources said Mr. Radhakrishna, despite the importance given to him by the party leadership, had become inactive of late. The reason could be the admission of former Vijayawada Central Assembly Constituency (new) legislator Malladi Vishnu into the YSR Congress. YSR Congress sources said Mr. Radhakrishna, who contested from the Vijayawada East Constituency (old) on party ticket and lost, was interested in coming back to his “original” constituency.
Ups and downs
Mr. Radhakrishna contested on Congress ticket in 2004 from the Vijayawada East Constituency (before delimitation) and won. After delimitation, the constituency was renamed the Vijayawada Central. Mr. Radhakrishna contested from the constituency on Praja Rajyam Party ticket and lost to Mr. Vishnu in 2009.
Having lost in the constituency which elected his father and his mother Ratnakumari, Mr. Radhakrishna was asked to try out a new constituency and he tried his luck in the new Vijayawada East Constituency, but was defeated by Gadde Ramamohan of the TDP.
Now he wants to get back to the Vijayawada Central, which is represented by Bonda Umamaheswara Rao of the TDP.
The TDP leaders wondered how he could be accommodated in the constituencies represented by the ruling party MLAs.
