Rajahmundry: Two former ministers are taking on their ex-Congress colleagues in East Godavari district. Pinepe Viswaroop has joined the YSRC while Thota Venkata Narasimham joined the Telugu Desam and is facing Union HRD minister M.M. Pallam Raju from the Kakinada parliamentary constituency.
None of the seven Congress MLAs is in the race this time under the party’s banner, leaving Mr Pallam Raju to fight a brave battle all alone.
Despite the desertions, Mr Pallam Raju’s loyalists and supporters expressed the confidence that he would score a hat-trick; he had earlier won from the Kakianda LS seat in 2004 and 2009.
“We strongly believe that despite the anti-Congress propaganda by the Opposition parties, the Union minister would definitely complete a hat-trick,” said APCC member Matta Siva Prasad
APCC general secretary Gidugu Rudra Raju said that though several leaders, including legislators and ministers had quit the Congress, the love for the party remains the same as it was before among the people.
“We will definitely stage a comeback with some seats including the Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency and also have a fair chance in the Rajahmundry parliamentary seat,” he said.
