YSRCP grapples with internal conflict ahead of AP elections
The ruling party faces backlash over capital shift and appointment of new in-charge persons
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• Alla Ramakrishna Reddy resigns from both MLA and party membership
• Mopidevi Venkataramana’s supporters resign over denied in-charge post
• Tippala Nagi Reddy’s son expresses dissent, later retracted
• Political circles predict new faces in most constituencies
Visakhapatnam: The ruling YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh has found itself on a sticky wicket over shifting of the capital to Visakhapatnam and the dissidence it is facing from a section of leaders and activists over appointment of 11 constituency in-charge persons with elections for the Assembly slated for April-May, 2024.
The party leadership, which is still discussing the pros and cons of incumbency factor leading to the dislodging of Bharat Rashtra Samiti Government in Telangana in recent elections, has, however, reiterated its firmness to go ahead with the Mission ‘Why Not 175.’ The Assembly in-charge persons, perceived as the party’s candidates for the ensuing elections, has triggered a lot of protests in Repalle, Mangalagiri, Guntur, Gajuwaka and other areas. While the party’s trouble-shooters could immediately indulge in a fire-fighting mission, on getting to know about his removal, Alla Ramakrishna Reddy popularly known as RK, the Mangalagiri MLA and a close confidante of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, immediately announced his resignation from the Assembly membership as well as the primary membership of the party.
Rajya Sabha MP Mopidevi Venkataramana’s supporters declared their resignation from the party in protest against denying in-charge post to their leader in Repalle constituency.
On the other hand, Gajuwaka MLA Tippala Nagi Reddy’s son T Devan Reddy expressed his dissent over removal from in-charge post. However, later he met YSRCP regional coordinator YV Subba Reddy and denied reports on plans to quit the party.
Political circles are agog with the talk that the ruling party is going to give opportunity to new faces in most constituencies. Party general secretary and Advisor (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and Education Minister Botcha Satyanarayana, while releasing list of new in-charge persons, said the party is keen on winning all 175 seats and hence, on the basis of winnability, they will take decisions to shakeup at various levels.
Though two GOs were issued and the Chief Minister himself made it very clear that he will relocate to Visakhapatnam in December, it may not be that easy due to a host of legal problems. The SLP on three capital issue is pending before the Supreme Court. The GOs allowing opening of transit accommodation and offices for the Chief Minister and his entourage including Ministers and Heads of Departments have been challenged in the AP High Court by a section of Amaravati farmers saying it will violate the order develop Amaravati as the single capital. Earlier, the State Government took a decision to have three capitals viz Visakhapatnam as executive capital, Kurnool as judicial capital and Amaravati as legislative capital to what it termed ensure decentralised development.
