MLC polls: YSRC, Telugu Desam busy to protect their flock

Nellore: YSRC leaders have been going all out to bag the MLC local bodies seat of Nellore district to showcase the party strength in the district which contributed seven legislators and two MPs to the party. The party cadres are in a upbeat mood because the party decided to contest irrespective of results. Also they selected a potential candidate Anam Vijayakumar Reddy, from the politically popular Anam family.

Moreover the party high command has assured monetary support for the election probably for the first time further boosting the morale of partymen. Soon after their candidates filed nominations, both TD and YSRC functionaries have been making arrangements to shift their local body members to camps to prevent poaching by each other. Sources in YSRC said they have managed to secure the support of eight local body members of TD in Kovur mandal and shifted them to a camp even as TD is gearing up to shift their members.

Notwithstanding party affiliations, it is a tradition of sorts for contesting candidates to pay sizeable amounts to their own party members to keep them in good humour and this election is going to be no different. Though TD got a clear edge with 137 votes more than YSRC out of total 844 votes, TD candidate Vakati Narayana Reddy may have to pay upto '3 lakh to ensure votes of local body members belonging to TD as YSRC is going to pay Rs 2 lakhs each to their members, a TD leader said.

 In addition to this, both the candidates have to organise camps at posh hotels in cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad to keep their flock together till March 16 since the elections are scheduled for March 17. “Whatever the majority TD is enjoying in local bodies is because of migrations from YSRC. However most of them repent switching loyalties since the leaders neglected them and we are going to cash on the situation now” said YSRC Nellore city MLA Dr P. Anilkumar Yadav.

He expressed confidence in winning the seat citing victories of independent candidate Dr Desai Tippa Reddy in Chittoor and an independent candidate Bommireddy Raghavendra Reddy in Nellore during MLC poll against ruling Congress nominees in 2011 though they hardly had any votes to depend upon.