YSR Congress has hit upon the idea of social engineering and empowering women in politics if the selection of at least three fresh faces for the parliamentary elections is any indication.
YSRCP chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has reportedly cleared the names of Kothapalli Geetha (Araku Lok Sabha), Reddy Shanti (Srikakulam) and Butta Renuka (Kurnool). Incidentally, all of them would be making their electoral debut with the crucial elections after division of the State.
Kothapalli Geetha, a Group I officer-turned businesswoman incidentally is the daughter of K. Jacob, who was the first graduate from the tribal belt of East Godavari district and worked as Deputy Collector. She topped the 1999 batch of Group I list, joined the State Government the same year. She worked in various capacities before joining her husband in managing the Visweswara Group of companies. In its bid to inch closer to the BC community, YSR Congress leadership has zeroed in on 45-year-old Reddy Shanti as the candidate for Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency.
Hailing from a family of freedom fighters from Srikakulam, Ms. Shanti is the third generation politician. Her grandparents, Palavalasa Sangam Naidu and Rukminamma served as MLAs of Andhra Pradesh. Her father Palavalasa Rajashekaram was Rajya Sabha member, MLA and the local ZP chairman.
Ms. Shanti’s husband Reddy Nagabhushana Rao is an Indian Forest Service officer presently serving as Principal Secretary, Parliament (Lok Sabha). She is a social worker and is pro-active when it comes to social causes.
Butta Renuka, who is tipped as the YSRCP candidate from Kurnool, is from backward classes’ weaver community. Associated with Butta Group which is into hospitality, education, branded retail and automobile sectors, is promoted by her husband B.S. Neelakanttha, a first generation businessman. The first candidate from the community to contest Kurnool Lok Sabha seat for over four decades, Ms. Renuka said: “My priority will be to take up the issue of weavers, who comprise the electorate in considerable numbers in the constituency, if given an opportunity.”
