Nellore: Magunta likely to embrace YSRC soon

Nellore: Speculations are rife over MLC and TD leader Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy migrating to YSRC shortly.

His followers have been building pressure on him to contest on a YSRC ticket, after coming to know about an invitation.

Sources closer to the former MP said that he is interested in contesting for Ongole Parliament seat, but some leaders of the party have been advising him to opt for Nellore Lok Sabha seat, as he belongs to the district. However, Magunta dislikes group politics in Nellore district and it is the reason for the family to make Prakasam district the base for politics.

During a recent meeting held with Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his followers from seven Assembly segments of Ongole expressed displeasure against the legislators and segment in-charges of TD for not inviting him to begin development works.

They alleged that several MLAs, even Darsi legislator and forest minister Sidda Raghava Rao,  won in the 2014 elections because of the popularity of Magunta, who contested for Ongole Lok Sabha seat then, but all of them failed to give adequate recognition to the former MP and senior politician in Prakasam district.

Citing all these issues, they appealed Magunta to embrace YSRC and contest for Ongole Parliament seat. However, Magunta silently heard them but did not respond to their request.

A close follower of Mag-unta Srinivasulu Reddy said that the latter had met AP Chief Minister Chandr-ababu Naidu a couple of days ago and hinted about shifting the party due to various reasons.

When contacted, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy said that he will take a decision on his political future in the next three days.  

A YSRC leader in Nellore ruled out the possibility of Srinivasulu Reddy contesting for Nellore Parliament seat, stressing that Jagan is in favour of fielding ex-MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy once again as changing him would send wrong signal to the party loyalists.