Rebels pose major trouble for MLAs, coordinators of YSRC

Visakhapatnam: Rebels are posing a serious threat to the sitting MLAs as well as constituency coordinators in as many as six assembly constituencies in north Andhra including Amadalavalasa which is being represented by Speaker Tammineni Sitaram.

Violating protocols as a Speaker, Sitaram participated in all the outreach programmes launched by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy since last year. Sitaram also criticised Opposition leaders for ignoring his position.

Now, he faces a serious threat from Chinatada Ravi Kumar, a social media activist of ruling YSRC. Son of a school teacher, Ravi Kumar built a good reputation for himself in the constituency as a good teacher in a private engineering college and mingling with tech-savvy youngsters of the constituency.

He drew the attention of the Chief Minister for his social media posts during the 2019 elections.

Rumours are doing the rounds that Sitaram may be shifted to Srikakulam to contest for Lok Sabha seat.

Similarly, Piria Sairaj also faces a tough situation in the Ichchapuram constituency where three others are vying for the constituency. Sairaj lost to TD’s Bendalam Ashok in 2019 elections. Presently appointed as coordinator, he faces stiff opposition from MLC Narthu Rama Rao, Shyam Prasad Reddy and former Congress MLA Naresh (Lalu) Agrawal. Sairaj’s wife Piria Vijaya is the chairperson of Srikakulam Zilla Parishad.

In the Pathapatnam constituency, Reddy Shanti is being challenged by an MPP Lothugedda Tulasi Varaprasad, a rich farmer from Kotturu village. Varaprasad has been egging on people to demand tickets from a local person and not an outsider. Reddy Shanti, daughter of former Congress MLA Palavalasa Rajasekhar, belongs to Palakonda.

Gorle Kiran is facing rebels in his Etcherla constituency where a section of YSRC workers took out a series of rallies in the constituency with a slogan to replace him. Sources said Minister Botsa Satyanarayana’s nephews Majji Srinivasa Rao and Luplapu Appala Naidu are making serious efforts to get nomination.

In the Tekkali constituency, Duvvada Vani is being opposed by other contenders, former central minister Killi Pruparani and Pedada Tilak. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced Duvvada Srinivas's name while addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for Mulapeta Seaport. But later his wife Duvvada Vani complained to the Chief Minister that Srinivasa Rao was having an extra marital affair. Jagan Mohan Reddy immediately asked her to take over charge. But her candidature was being opposed by senior leaders Tilak and Kruparani.

Rebellion reached a peak in the Visakhapatnam South constituency against the sitting MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar. Last week 12 corporators held a meeting against him and sent the resolution to the Chief Minister. Ganesh Kumar won on a TD ticket but later joined YSRC. Following these developments, the names of Fisheries Corporation chairman Kola Guruvulu and Brahmin Corporation chairman Seetharaju Sudhakar resurfaced.