Tirupati: The YSR Congress (YSRC) is grappling with internal discord over allocation of Chittoor assembly ticket for the 2024 elections. Fierce competition for the party ticket existed this time between incumbent MLA Arani Srinivasulu and APSRTC vice-chairman Vijayananda Reddy.
The feud reached a critical stage as the two leaders recently met chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to present their claims. On Tuesday, both received calls from the CM's office on the announcement of the in-charges for various constituencies.
The chief minister suggested to MLA Srinivasulu to back Vijayananda’s candidacy. In return, the CM promised him a Rajya Sabha nomination. Vijayananda Reddy and his supporters openly hailed the “chance” coming in his way. However, the list of 27 in-charges announced on Tuesday did not have a mention of the Chittoor assembly seat.
The meeting the two had with the CM seems to have had an unexpected consequence. After the meeting, celebrations erupted among Vijayananda’s supporters in Chittoor town, with his supporters dancing and bursting crackers late into Tuesday night. A deeply upset Arani Srinivasulu’s camp expressed disappointment over the leadership’s decision. The sitting MLA and his loyalists are strongly opposed to conceding ground to Vijayananda Reddy in 2024.
An open rebellion in the party over this issue could pose a significant pre-poll challenge for the YSRC.
Political analysts feel that the denial of ticket to a sitting MLA, who won the seat in 2019 with a margin of over 30,000 votes, could seriously undermine the party’s prospects in the coming polls. The denial of support from Arani’s camp may provide the opposition, particularly the TD, an electoral advantage.
