YSRC aims to strengthen its hold in Rapthadu

ANANTAPUR: The YSRC high command which was targeting minister Paritala Sunitha plan to field a strong candidate from the Rapthadu assembly segment in the district. Sources revealed the party plans to give a tough fight or even win the sensitive assembly segment in Rayalaseema region.

The Rapthadu assembly segment was formed during delimitation process five years ago after a few mandals of Penukonda-Kanaganipalli, CK Palli and Ramagiri were spilt and merged into Rapthadu.

Similarly, Parigi and Gorantla mandals were added to the Penukonda segment along with existing Penukonda and Somandepalli mandals. Kanaganipalli and Ramagiri are sensitive mandals, severely faction hit and extremist-affected areas in the region. Soon after the murder of Paritala Ravindra, his wife entered politics and won from Penukonda assembly segment and, later, from the newly formed Rapthadu segment. The YSRC candidate, Topudurthi Prakash Reddy, tasted defeat against his nearest rival, Paritala Sunitha, during last elections.

With information extracted through different survey teams, the YSRC party high command was reportedly feeling strong in a few segments in the district including Rapthadu and planning new strategies to give a close fight to the candidate from the rival party in the upcoming general polls. There are speculations over a plan to get back into the active politics the family members of Kanamukkala Sane Chenna Reddy by offering them either an MLA or an MLC ticket.

It may be noted that erstwhile Penukonda taluka politics was dominated by the factional rivalry of two families, Gangula Narayana Reddy and Paritala Sriramulu. More than a hundred persons, including family members from both groups, were killed in fighting. Warlord Maddelacheruvu Suri alias Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy who served most of his life in prison in connection with attempt to murder Paritala Ravindra, was unable to succeed as a politician. His wife G. Bhanumathi led the Congress party for a few years but she is now settled in Bengaluru, away from political activities. Topurdurthi Prakash Reddy leads the YSRC.

The YSRC was planning to strengthen the party by inviting the family members of Kannamukkala Sane Chenna Reddy, the slain legislator, who led the faction for years after Narayana Reddy died.

Chenna Reddy was gunned down by a splinter group naxals and his two sons, S.V. Ramana Reddy and S. Obula Reddy, were murdered as a result of faction rivalry.

Sources revealed, Sane Chenna Reddy’s daughter was planning to enter active politics to strengthen old people and group men in all villages.