A severe case of son stroke and a game of musical chairs may see as many as 15 of the 30 Congress Lok Sabha members losing renomination for the forthcoming elections. Seats that will “vanish” due to delimitation will add to the confused scenario.The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s camp is insisting on dropping some MPs because of the adverse situation in their constituencies.
Among the most prominent of affected MPs could be the former chief minister, Mr N. Janardhan Reddy. The Visakhapatnam MP is not sure of getting a ticket from his native Nellore, which was opened to the general category after delimitation. It was previously reserved for the SCs.
Speculation is that he may opt out citing his age and try to get a ticket for his elder son, Mr Ram Kumar, from Nellore. Sources close to the Chief Minister said that the Narasaraopet MP, Mr Mekapati Raja Mohan Reddy, is also eyeing the Nellore seat; he is a native of PSR Nellore district.
There are more suitors for Nellore. The Union minister of state, Ms Panabaka Lakshmi, is insisting to contesting again from Nellore.
She may be asked to move to either Chittoor or Bapatla, both of which are now reserved for SCs.
But then, the Bapatla seat is also being eyed by Mr J.D. Seelam whose Rajya Sabha term will end next year.
Union minister of state, Ms Daggubati Purandareswari. is scouting around for a Lok Sabha seat from coastal Andhra. Her Bapatla seat has been reserved for SCs after delimitation.
Mr G. Venkataswamy, former Union minister and CWC member, is not sure of renomination from his Pedapalli seat due to his advancing years. His elder son, Mr G. Vivek, is being tipped for the seat. The Chief Minister has reportedly favoured changing the LS candidate from the seat.
The Tenali MP, Mr V. Balasowri, who has the backing of Dr Rajasekhar Reddy, may have to shift to Narasaraopet.
The Union ministers, Mr M.M. Pallam Raju and Ms Renuka Chowdary, are expected to be renominated from Kakinada and Khammam.
The Union minister, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, wants to shift from Miryalaguda to Chevella but the Chief Minister’s camp is insisting he should move to Nalgonda.
Unconfirmed reports say she could be asked to contest from Mr Janardhan Reddy’s Visakhapatnam. Interestingly, Mr T. Subbirami Reddy, Rajya Sabha member, is showing interest to contest from Visakhapatnam, which he had represented earlier. Party sources however point out that he has over four years in the Rajya Sabha.
The Adilabad MP, Mr Indrakaran Reddy, has been asked to return to his native Assembly segment of Nirmal as his Lok Sabha constituency has been reserved for STs.
Mr Lagadapati Rajgopal from Vijayawada, Mr Kavuri Sambasiva Rao from Eluru, Mr Rayapati Sambasiva Rao from Guntur and Mr Vundavalli Aruna Kumar from Rajahmundry are reportedly told by the Chief Minister to concentrate on campaigning in their respective constituencies as they are certain to get renominated
Party sources say the PCC chief, Mr D. Srinivas, still vying to contest from either the Nizamabad Assembly segment or the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat which is being represented by his follower, Mr Madhu Yashki Goud.
Earlier reports indicated that Mr Srinivas himself had mooted the idea of contesting from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha and allowing his son and Nizamabad mayor, Mr D. Sanjay, to contest from the Assembly segment.
Mr Madhu Yashki who has been highly critical of the Chief Minister, will be asked to shift to either Malkajagiri or Bhongir, newly created LS seats.
