Ever-sulking sitting MLA of YSR Congress party from Ongole and former minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy has managed to retain his seat for the coming assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, but he is still lobbying for the Ongole MP seat for his friend Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.
While giving the party ticket to Balineni, party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy categorically told him not to insist on the MP ticket for Magunta.
He also rejected Balineni’s demand for the party tickets to his followers in Santhanuthalapadu and Kondepi constituencies.
As a result, Balineni continues to sulk for not being given due respect in the party. On Wednesday, he did not hide his disappointment over the developments in Prakasam district.
“I have been given the ticket after much lobbying and also funds for the housing scheme in Ongole. But I could not secure tickets to the candidates who I had recommended in Santhanuthalapadu and Kondepi. It doesn’t take much time for me to resign, but I want to maintain restraint. I hope things will happen cordially,” he said.
Balineni said he was still trying to get the Ongole MP ticket for Magunta.
“He has been there in politics for the last 30 years. Let me seen how far my attempt will succeed,” the former minister said.
One wonders why Balineni is so keen on securing the MP ticket for Magunta, who has apparently defied the high command’s order.
Sources said Magunta had been the main source of funding for Balineni and in the 2019 elections, too, Magunta had financed Balineni for winning the seat.
Secondly, Balineni also has business equations with Magunta family. He is learnt to have stakes in the Delhi liquor business of Magunta’s son Raghava, who was arrested in Delhi liquor policy scam.
Thirdly, Balineni is apprehensive that if Magunta is not given the party ticket, it might go to former MP and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chairman Y V Subba Reddy, with whom he doesn’t have good equations, though both are relatives.
And he knows Jagan will give more importance to Subba Reddy than him.
“That is why Balineni is insisting on getting the MP ticket to Magunta,” sources said.