Anantapura: Three former police officers in fray
Md. Iqbal, who retired few months ago while working as Rayalaseema zone IGP, had joined YSRC.
Anantapura: Three former police officers are in the fray and testing their lucks from Rayalaseema region.
Retired Circle Inspector Gorantla Maadhav is contesting on YSRC ticket from Hindupur Lok Sabha constituency while retired Inspector General of Police Md. Iqbal is contesting from Hindupur Assembly segment in Anantapur district.
Telugu Desam did an experiment by fielding former police officer Mandra Sivananda Reddy from Nandyal Lok Sabha segment despite internal bickering among party leaders.
Md. Iqbal, who retired few months ago while working as Rayalaseema zone IGP, had joined YSRC. The party high command fielded the retired police personnel from Hindupur Assembly segment in the district.
Hindupur Assembly segment is the home turf and strong hold for TD ever since party founder N.T. Rama Rao contested from there. N.T. Rama Rao had won from there thrice and his son Nandamuri Harikrishna and Balakrishna had also won from Hindupur. Presently, Nandamuri Balakrishna is contesting for the second time.
YSRC initially planned to field party in-charge Naveen Nischal and later, former MLA Abdul Ghani. But, later, it made an experiment by fielding Md. Iqbal through minority card against Nandamuri Balakrishna.
Similarly, LS candidate of Hindupur Gorantla Madhav was fielded after many twists. He was the Circle Inspector from VR and fought to get clearance for his Voluntary Retirement till the last day of filing nomination. However, Madhav from Kuruba, a strong BC community in Hindupur area, hopes to get votes from own community.
For Nandyal LS seat, retired police officer Mandra Sivananda Reddy is in fray, despite differences among leaders and shifting of several leaders into YSRC.
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