Kurnool: Officials caught between feuding Nandikotkur TD MLA & MP
There is a clearly palpable animosity between the area’s Telugu Desam MLA G. Jayasurya and TDP MP Dr. Byreddy Shabari
Kurnool: Intra-party rivalry within the ruling Telugu Desam Party has turned a major headache for government staff, particularly senior officials, in the Nandikotkur reserved assembly constituency of Nandyal district.
There is a clearly palpable animosity between the area’s Telugu Desam MLA G. Jayasurya and TDP MP Dr. Byreddy Shabari. Whenever MLA Jayasurya gets officials amenable to him posted in the constituency, MP Shabari uses her contacts to transfer these officials and bring in those who would do her bidding.
This has become a major problem for officials. For example, a circle inspector and a sub-inspector had been posted in the Nandikotkur constituency at the request of Jayasurya. However, Shabari, following complaints by her followers, reportedly got them transferred and replaced them with her own supporters.
What is shocking is that the entire conflict is due to disagreement between leaders of the same party, who belong to different factions.
One faction is led by former legislator Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy. The other is headed by a former police officer and TD leader Mandra Sivananda Reddy. MLA Jayasurya is aligned with Mandra's group. MP Shabari, who is the daughter of Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy, thus is opposed to the MLA exerting influence.
After Shabari won from the Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency on the TDP ticket, her father Rajasekhar Reddy is using her power to direct officials to do his bidding.
The contradiction within the ruling TDP has created an uncertain situation for officials, whether to follow the directions of the local MLA or the MP.
The rivalry only intensified when MLA Jayasurya criticized Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy recently in connection with some party affair, prompting a public response from MP Shabari, who vowed to develop the constituency even without the MLA’s involvement.
"The party high command should intervene and resolve the ongoing tussle. Otherwise, officials will continue facing embarrassing situations,” said a local leader, expressing his dissent over the developments.