YSR Congress doubtful of victory

Nellore: Although YSR Congress leaders have been exuding confidence of winning all the Assembly seats in SPSR Nellore district in 2014 elections in the backdrop of party’s performance in the byelections held last year, some of them are apprehensive over party chances in Atmakur constituency.

The segment is being represented by the finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy now and he is all set to enter the fray from the same seat in 2014.

YSRC has already decided to field Mekapati Gowtham Reddy, son of Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, against the minister and made him as coordinator of Atmakur constituency to enable him to develop rapport with the party cadres and people.

A post-graduate from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, U.K., Gowtham Reddy works behind the screen for the success of his father whenever he contests.

He was instrumental in bringing harmony among the warring groups in YSRC during byelections for Nellore Parliament and Udayagiri Assembly seats in 2012.

He managed to obtain their support for his father and his strategy helped Rajamohan Reddy to overcome the dissidence within the party then.

This will be the first time Gowtham entering into direct politics and his party chose him to contest against a formidable candidate and seasoned politician– Ramanarayana Reddy.

Aware of growing discontent against the ruling party among people, Ramanarayana Reddy has been nursing the Atmakur constituency with tender care since two years.

He got sanction for Somasila High-Level Canal to address the water needs of backward areas in his segment.

He has also sanctioned a water scheme for Atmakur through pipeline from Somasila. He has been ensuring that lion share of development works are grounded in Atmakur with an eye on 2014 elections.

Majority of the works have been allotted to Congress cadres to keep them in good humour and work for the success of the minister in the elections.

YSR Congress leaders feel that Gowtham is no match to Ramanarayana Reddy especially in political manoeuvrability.

They stressed the need for fielding an experienced and strong person against Ramanarayana Reddy.