Senior YSR Congress party legislator from Mangalagiri constituency Alla Ramakrishna Reddy is unlikely to be the contender against Telugu Desam Party general secretary Nara Lokesh in constituency in the coming assembly elections to be held in 2024.
According to sources in the party, Ramakrishna Reddy, popularly known as RK in the political circles, is facing severe anti-incumbency in Mangalagiri constituency, as per the survey commissioned by Jagan. He has been representing the constituency for the last two terms.
However, Jagan cannot dump him just like that, as RK had been an asset to the party, exposing several land scandals in Amaravati thereby embarrassing TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and others.
At the same time, he cannot give the ticket to RK who is likely to face the defeat this time.
So, the YSRC chief is said to be contemplating shifting RK to neighbouring Bapatla assembly constituency. Sitting MLA from this constituency Kona Raghupathi is also facing strong anti-incumbency and also infighting in the party ranks.
Since Raghupathi has to be replaced anyway, Jagan is said to be planning to shift RK to Bapatla. He is likely to make an announcement to this effect shortly, sources said.
In Mangalagiri, the YSRC supremo is planning to field a prominent padmashali (weaver) community leader to fight against Lokesh. He has three options before him – former MLAs Kandru Kamala and Murugudu Hanumantha Rao or Ganji Chiranjeevi, who had defected from the TDP to YSRCP a few months ago.
In all probability, the chance might go to Chiranjeevi, who has a lot of clout among the community in Mangalagiri. Will he be able to fight against Lokesh will be interesting to see.