MLA fears return of faction fights in Anantapur

ANANTAPUR: Tadipatri MLA Kethireddy Pedda Reddy has expressed fears that faction fights may erupt in the Yellanur and Putlur mandals of the Anantapur district.

Protesting against the arrest of his associates in Yellanur mandal, the Tadipatri MLA said he is maintaining silence because faction wars have only brought loss of life and properties for many families. This had been quite evident when Congress ruled the state.

Pedda Reddy pointed out that Yellanur and Putlur mandals, bordering the Pulivendula assembly constituency, are hyper-sensitive mandals with decades-old history of factions. Factionists in the area have hacked their opponents, destroyed their orchards and even used landmines two and a half decades ago.

The Tadipatri MLA pointed out that Dharmavaram MLA K. Venkatrami Reddy’s father K. Suryapratap Reddy had been hacked to death by his rivals one and a half decades ago. He said faction feuds have drastically come down in the past decade.

Pedda Reddy is MLA from the Tadipatri segment. But Yellanur and Putlur mandals, which are now part of the Singanamala assembly constituency following the reorganisation of constituencies, are his strongholds.

Singanamala is an SC-reserved constituency represented by J. Padmavati. Both Padmavati and Pedda Reddy’s families have close contact with Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Pedda Reddy’s fears of factionism raising its head arose after two groups of YSRC workers clashed at Dantalapalli in Yellanur mandal. The Tadipatri MLA reacted seriously after police registered non-bailable cases against his close aides while booking the rival group people under bailable sections.

“It is better to keep away from politics at least to avoid further loss of people,” Pedda Reddy remarked, however, warning that if faction feuds start again, they would spread to Simhadripuram and Lingala mandals of Pulivendula.

Sources say internal bickering has started after Singanamala MLA Padmavati reportedly started encouraging Bhogati Narayana Reddy, who is opposing the Tadipatri MLA, by allotting him government contracts in the native mandal of Pedda Reddy. This would mean Pedda Reddy is failing in taking care of the interests of his close aides in the mandal, which is his stronghold.

This would undermine Tadipatri MLA’s political dominance, which he can ill afford.