The decision of the YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to do a massive reshuffle of candidates and dropping of some of the sitting MLAs for the upcoming assembly elections in the state is creating ripples in the party.
While some of the sitting MLAs who are being denied the tickets are openly expressing their disgruntlement, others are registering silent protest in one form or the other.
For instance, sitting YSRC MLA from Mylavaram Vasantha Venkata Krishna Prasad, who has been asked to move to Jaggayyapet for the next assembly elections, appears to be terribly upset.
The party is planning to shift state housing minister Jogi Ramesh, who is presently representing Pedana assembly constituency, to Mylavaram in place of Vasantha Krishna Prasad. This has caused anguish to the sitting MLA.
When Jagan summoned Vasantha Krishna Prasad to Tadepalli for talks, the latter refused to go and stayed back in Hyderabad. He reportedly told his followers and party leaders that he would not contest the assembly elections this time.
Though he has no intention to quit the party, Vasantha’s decision is being considered as a defiance of the party decision and his non-cooperation might cost the party heavily in Mylavaram, party sources say.
Another MLA Rapaka Varaprasad, who was the only MLA from Jana Sena Party ticket in the last assembly elections and later defected to the YSR Congress party, is also being denied the YSRC ticket. There is a talk that he might be fielded from Amalapuram Lok Sabha constituency.
Rapaka, however, said he was ready to take up any responsibility given to him by the party.
“Any seat is okay for me – whether it is the assembly or the Lok Sabha. I will abide by the party decision,” he told reporters.