YSRC faces setback as TD gains momentum
Tirupati: The upcoming vice-chairman election in Buchireddypalem Municipal Panchayat in Nellore district has sparked a major shift in local politics, with the Telugu Desam party gaining an upper hand while the YSR Congress party appears to be losing its grip on power.
Former YSRC MLA Nallapareddy Prasanna Reddy’s ambitions have taken a significant hit in the lead-up to the election. Despite his earlier efforts to consolidate support and get a whip issued in favour of his candidate for the vice-chairman post, the political scenario changed dramatically.
The backing he once enjoyed from local YSRC councillors diminished, with several key figures now joining the TD.
On Friday, some senior YSRC leaders defected to the TD. Under the leadership of Ippagunta Mallareddy, the YSRC members including 10th ward councillor B Mallareddy, Buchireddypalem mandal YSRC convener T Mallikarjun Reddy, senior leaders Srinivasulu Reddy, K Narasimhulu and RK Ravi joined the TD ranks.
The defections have strengthened the TD’s position in Buchireddypalem. These are more significant with the involvement of Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy and his wife, local MLA Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy. They were a driving force in the shift, with the couple playing an active role in uniting the defectors and bringing them into the TD fold.
Prasanna Reddy’s camp, which had been preparing to contest for the vice-chairman position, now finds itself in a more precarious position. Despite his earlier confidence, the defections have hurt his leadership profile. The defectors cited Prasanna’s authoritarian styles as one reason for their decision to switch allegiance and hoped for a more accommodative approach to them in the Telugu Desam.
