Kakinada: Resentment is palpable among the ruling YSRC MLAs in three segments of the Kakinada Lok Sabha Constituency as the party high command sought to change them in the 2024 elections and appoint in-charges for these constituencies.
Pithapuram MLA Pendem Dorababu, Jaggampeta MLA Jyothula Chantibabu and Prathipadu MLA Parvatha Purnachandra Prasad on Monday called on chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and appealed to him to give them one more chance.
Pithapuram MLA Pendem Dorababu told Jagan as well as the party coordinator for Godavari districts P Mithun Reddy that a fresh survey should be conducted on his candidature to ascertain people’s opinion.
The leaders who accompanied the MLA said that the party has been gaining fresh momentum in the constituency under the leadership of Dorababu, known as a non-controversial leader and that he is always available to the people in the constituency. For these reasons, it is not advisable to change his candidature, they urged the central leadership.
According to party sources, Prathipadu MLA Parvatha Purnachandra Prasad also met the high command. However, he told Deccan Chronicle that he had not met the chief minister.
According to his followers, he is “totally disappointed and disillusioned” with the party's present disinterest in him.
There was a mounting dissidence against Parvatha Purnachandra Prasad. Due to his adamant behaviour, two MPPs, MPTC and Sarpanches of the constituency have taken their complaints against him to the notice of high command, but in vain. Recently they joined the Telugu Desam.
However, by deciding to change the candidature of Purchandra Prasad, Jagan has clearly indicated to all the MLAs that they should handle the dissidence in the party. Otherwise, action would be taken like Purnachandra Prasad,’’ said a YSRC second rung leader.
The party high command has kept aside the name of Jaggampeta MLA Jyothula Chantibabu and instead decided to appoint Jaggampeta former MLA and former minister Thota Venkata Narasimham.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Chantibabu is lobbying with the party high command to ensure his candidature is not thwarted.
According to sources, Chantibabu kept off the people for the past three years, and sought to re-engage them in recent times. But some local leaders and the party cadres remained vexed with his adamant styles and behaviour.
Meanwhile, rumours erupted about the party’s Peddapuram constituency incharge Dovuluri Dorababu. Dorababu’s candidature was declared by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Samalkot meeting last month. There is dissent against him and the YSRC leaders in the constituency demanded that the high command change his candidature, or the party might lose the constituency again.
At present, Telugu Desam leader Nimmakayala China Rajappa is representing Peddapuram constituency.
News is doing rounds that Kakinada MP Vanga Githa may be appointed as in-charge for Pithapuram constituency, Thota Narasimham for Jaggampeta constituency and Parvatha Janaki Devi for Prathipadu constituency.
