Amid speculation that he might cross over to the YSRCP, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, the TDP national vice-president and MLC, on Friday held consultations with his close family members on his political future.
Visakhapatnam in the elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly, sources said.
Declining to share details, Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy told The Hindu that “it is too early to say anything now.”
Survey findings
Internal surveys he had commissioned suggested that Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy was not in a position to improve his poll prospects this time too in any of the constituencies in western Prakasam, where the Reddy community enjoyed political clout, sources said.
The surveys suggested that it would be a cakewalk if he chooses to contest the Ongole Lok Sabha seat on the YSRCP ticket, the sources added.
During discussions within the TDP, Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy, who crossed over from the Congress to the TDP on the eve of the 2014 elections in protest against the Centre’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, had been impressing upon the leadership to select a strong set of candidates for the Assembly segments, especially in western Prakasam, the TDP sources said.
The former MP had also been suggesting to the leadership to allow him to continue as MLC while assuring to work whole-heartedly for the party’s victory in the event of it fielding a new candidate for the prestigious Lok Sabha seat.
‘He is welcome’
Meanwhile, YSRCP sources said the party would not have any problem in accommodating Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy if he chooses to join it.
“So far, he has not revealed his mind,” a senior YSRCP leader said.
Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy, who had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, polled more votes than his YSRCP rival Y.V. Subba Reddy in the Ongole Assembly segment but fell behind in the Giddalur, Markapur, Yerragondapalem and Kanigiri Assembly segments.
