Congress man joins Telugu Desam

Anantapur: In an interesting twist, mines and geology director, Rajagopal’s brother- in-law, Ambika Laksminarayana, who was the Congress in-charge of Hindupur Assembly segment, in the district, has decided to shift loyalties to Telugu Desam.

Rajagopal was one of the accused in the illicit mining of iron ore from Obulapuram mining area, along with mining baron and former BJP minister, Gali Janardhana Reddy and  also YSR Congress president, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

There have been speculations over the close relationship between  Rajgopal and Jagan Mohan Reddy, as the mines director also served many months in the judicial remand, in connection with the cases, and the former mines director was reportedly making efforts to contest from Uravakonda Assembly segment, in the forthcoming elections.

However, his brother- in-law, Ambika Lakshminarayana, has announced  his intention of joining Telugu Desam  on January 26. 

Lakshminarayana was previously the leader of Valmiki Hakkula Porata Samiti, which was fighting for the rights of Valmikis in Rayalaseema region and joined Congress in 2009 elections and contested as  Congress candidate from the sensitive Hindupur Assembly segment.

But the Telugu Desam candidate, Abdul Ghani, won in the previous elections, while Lakshminarayana stood in the third place in the triangular fight.

The party High Command and district ministers  encouraged Lakshminarayana as the party in-charge against the  rival leader Naveen Nischal after the 2009 elections.

Recently, Naveen Nischal joined into YSR Congress. The Cong-ress in-charge, Ambika Lakshminarayana, had announced his  decision to leave the  party following his displeasure over not giving  priority  to Hindupur development.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, he lashed out  at the revenue minister, N. Raghuveera Reddy, for ignoring Hindupur area.

“I am not expecting benefit from the Telugu Desam, and ready to serve at any level  for the party,” he said.

However, several Telugu Desam leaders from Hindupur  were opposing the entry of Rajgopal’s brother-in- law following controversy in connection with illegal mining lease issues.

The Telugu Desam cadre says that the party reputation would damage badly if it joins Rajagopal’s brother-in-law.

The leaders say that giving ticket to Lakshminarayana would spoil winning chances of Telugu Desam in the constituency.