Anantapur: Kurnool politics took an interesting turn after the Telugu Desam fielded its candidate for MLC seat under the local body representative's quota though it has fewer votes than its main rival, the YSR Congress, in the district. Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy, brother of former minister Shilpa Mohan Reddy filed nomination papers as TD candidate on Thursday. YSRC plans to field D. Venkateswar Reddy as its candidate.
YSRC had gained a majority in the local bodies, including municipality and mandals in the last elections. The difference was about 100 votes between both parties. However, two in-charges K. Sivananda Reddy of Nandikotkur and Vishnuvardhan Reddy of Kodumur shifted loyalties to the TD along their followers from the YSRC after the elections.
Nandyal MP S.P.Y. Reddy too shifted loyalties but there is no clarity about his close aides and elected representatives in local bodies of Nandyal area. Though YSRC had won a majority of ZPTCs, several members shifted loyalties to TD that grabbed ZP chairman post. Official sources said that there were 1,087 voters 623 women and 464 men in local bodies for the MLC polls.
