The YSR Congress cadres in Kuppam constituency owing allegiance to former ZP chairman and party’s Kuppam coordinator M. Subramanyam Reddy are sour with the party high command for not declaring Mr. Reddy as the MLA candidate and for making moves to replace him with new entrant Chandramouli, a retired civil servant from Kurnool district.
The meeting of Mr. Reddy’s supporters in Kuppam on Saturday, which attained a revolting tone, attracted the attention of the district leaders.
During the meeting, the YSRC cadres vowed to work for Telugu Desam Party and see to it that TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu wins with a majority of over 1 lakh votes if Mr. Reddy is not given the ticket. Mr. Reddy had earlier quit his post as the ZP chairman during the fag end of the tenure and joined the YSR Congress. Before joining the YSRC, he contested against the TDP chief in Kuppam thrice and was defeated as Congress candidate.
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In the meeting some cadres supporting the candidature of Mr. Chandramouli said that as he belongs to the dominant Vannekula Kshtraiya community which consists of nearly 48 per cent of the voters in Kuppam constituency, it would be beneficial to the YSRC and would work as a strong assurance to the Backward Classes communities. They also sought Mr. Reddy’s supporters to concentrate on the ensuing Zilla Parishad elections. At this point, both groups entered into heated arguments and when they were about clash, it was duly averted by the elderly.
When The Hindu tried to contact Mr Reddy, he was not available. Some of the YSRC district cadres close to Mr. Reddy said that he is inaccessible to them too for the last one week. It is an open secret that Subramanyam Reddy’s candidature for the MLA ticket in Kuppam and to take on Mr Naidu has failed to enjoy the support of former Minister and district YSRC force Mr Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy.