Khammam: The rank and file of Telugu Desam and YSRC are deciding to go in favour of party policy in supporting Congress candidate Ramareddy Sucharita Reddy in Palair byelection.
After campaigning for the Telangana Telugu Desam president Revanth Reddy in the segment, the party cadre have been convinced and are considering voting for Sucharita.
For Telugu Desam cadre, it is a new one to vote for Congress after its inception. TD emerged as the regional party against Congress and its regime in 1983. But, the changing scenario like bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, hunting by TRS for Telugu Desam leaders and protecting themselves as party workers forced them to change their mindset.
N. Prasad, a TD worker in Gollapadu under Khammam Rural mandal said, “We have to go on party line in Palair and they have decided to vote in favour of Congress candidate in the election.”
Former MP Nama Nageswara Rao secured 50,000 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Palair segment. Many leaders joined TRS accepting the invitation of minister for roads and buildings Tummala Nageswara Rao but Telugu Desam was still a force in the segment.
On the other hand, the joining of Khammam MP and YSRC state president P. Srinivasa Reddy in TRS made the party cadre furious not only in Palair but also in the district.
V. Satyanarayana, an YSRC leader said that Ponguleti approached Sucharita Reddy after Venkat Reddy’s demise and promised her to extend his full support in the election. “Further, the MP told to her to treat him as an elder son and would work for her win in Palair,” he said, adding that they are unable to accept the stand of Ponguleti, who changed party. Because of it, YSRC cadre irked with MP’s gesture and started working for Congress in the election.
