Firebrand YSR Congress party leader and Nagari MLA R K Roja, who claims herself to be very close to party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, appears to be totally disgusted with the groupism in the party within her constituency.
What is more disturbing to her is the way Jagan has been encouraging the party leaders who have been openly opposing her leadership in her own constituency Nagari and have been running a parallel group within the party.
A few months ago, Jagan has appointed K Santhi Kumari, wife of former municipal chairman of Nagari K G Kumar, as the chairperson of Eediga Community Welfare Corporation. Kumar has been Roja’s bitter opponent within the party in the constituency.
Even before Roja has forgotten this insult, the chief minister appointed Reddivari Chakrapani Reddy from Nagari as the chairperson of Srisailam temple trust board, which is a prestigious post, a couple of days ago.
It was like rubbing salt on the wounds of Roja, as Chakrapani Reddy has been her strong opponent in Nagari. During the recent mandal parishad elections in Nindra mandal, Chakrapani Reddy fielded candidates from his own group to defeat the followers of Roja.
Apparently, Roja is not able to digest the fact that Jagan has been giving nominated posts to her arch rivals in the party, ignoring her own followers.
She is said to be of the view that it would give scope for her rivals gaining upper hand over her in Nagari.
In as many as five mandals in Nagari constituency, Roja is facing revolt from within the YSRC. This, she feels, would ultimately affect her prospects of -getting re-elected as the MLA in the next elections.
Already, Roja is upset for being removed as the chairperson of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in July 2021. Though she has been continuing as an MLA, she doesn’t have any prominent post and as a result, her rivals are trying to dominate her.
She is hopeful that Jagan would induct her in the state cabinet in the forthcoming reshuffle.
“If she doesn’t get the cabinet berth, she feels it is better to resign from the MLA post, rather than facing humiliation from her rivals within the party,” sources close to her said.