Ever since the YSR Congress party led by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy lost the assembly elections in the state in June, his uncle and former minister from Ongole Balineni Srinivas Reddy has been keeping away from the party activities.
In fact, even during the election period, Balineni had been sulking as Jagan had ignored his demands to give the MP ticket to his friend Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and others in Prakasam district.
At one stage, he even decided to opt out of the race in the elections, but was pacified to stay back, after Jagan conceded his demand for granting house sites for the poor in Ongole.
He, however, lost the election to Telugu Desam Party’s Damacharla Janardhan Rao with a margin of over 30,000 votes.
There has been a talk in the political circles that Balineni has decided to quit the YSRCP sooner or later.
Since he cannot join the Telugu Desam Party, as he had been the bitter critic of party president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, he is said to be eyeing the Jana Sena Party.
Rumours have it that Balineni got the green signal from Jana Sena Party president and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan to join the party.
Apparently, the power star has felt that joining of a popular leader like Balineni would strengthen the Jana Sena in Prakasam district.
However, the camp of Balineni has been spreading the talk that he has asked for a berth in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet for which he has to be first nominated to the state legislative council.
The camp has also leaked that Pawan Kalyan would consider his demand and take it up with Naidu.
One wonders whether there is any truth in these rumours.
First of all, Naidu would not entertain a leader like Balineni, who had dominated the politics in Prakasam district and created terror for the local TDP leaders, especially Damacharla.
Secondly, Balineni is a close relative of Jagan and so, Naidu doesn’t have any faith in his loyalty to the alliance.
Thirdly, the YSRCP leader was of little use to the YSRCP, as he was more interested in his personal benefits, rather than the party or public benefits.
“So, how can Balineni, who was not of any use for the YSRCP, will help strengthen the alliance in Andhra Pradesh? It doesn’t work out. Forget about giving him a cabinet berth, making him an MLC itself will prove counterproductive to the TDP in Prakasam district,” sources said.