The untimely and sudden death of minister Mekapati Gowtham Reddy is a great loss to YSR Congress Party in Nellore district.
The Mekapati family stood firm behind chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for years.
Gowtham Reddy’s father, Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy was one of the ardent supporters of late Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, who stood, later, behind Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The family had been a great source of strength for Jagan Mohan Reddy in the days of crisis, particularly when he was in the jail.
The Mekapati family stood firm behind Jagan Mohan Reddy, when the Anam family was against Jagan in Nellore district politics.
The family has followers in Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts, from where Rajamohan Reddy won Lok Sabha elections.
Rajamohan Reddy retired from politics with the succession of son Gowtham Reddy, who also stood like rock behind Jagan Mohan Reddy in the two consecutive elections in 2014 and 2019.
Gowtham Reddy was close to Jagan Mohan Reddy’s heart from the beginning and was considered a trusted lieutenant in the party as well as Nellore district politics.
There is no match to Gowtham Reddy and it is to be seen how the Mekapati family would fill the gap to strengthen the hands of Jagan Mohan Reddy in the days to come.