Bickering Among Leaders in Kadapa Over Cement Factory Deals

Anantapur: Kadapa district politics took an interesting twist following internal bickering among leaders of the alliance partners, the BJP and TD, and involving the cement industry in recent days.

Jammalamadugu MLA Adinarayana Reddy of the BJP faced allegations over getting the sub-contract works including transport deals from the cement companies, which were previously with the YSRC agencies.

In another development, the BJP MLA reportedly threatened the UltraTech cement factory management to allot contract works to his close aides. Adinarayana defended his stand by saying that YSRC leaders at various levels were earning such income from the cement companies, while those from other parties were not getting the work.

Recently, five limestone tippers were seized and a few contract workers were removed from their duties at the cement company. The work in the company came to a standstill due to a lack of contract workers, reportedly after pressure from the BJP leader.

Reacting to the allegations against him, Reddy said he would speak to the CM and explain to him that YSRC leaders were dominating the cement scene and that such firms were not giving work to those from other parties, as also transport and other contracts, for several years.

Some associates of the MLA blocked the transportation of lime and fly ash to the cement factory for the past three days, saying they should be given the work. Activities and production were hit as the company was unable to get limestone due to the protests.

The police registered a case based on a complaint by the cement factory against S Jagadeeswar Reddy and ten others who allegedly obstructed the limestone supply to the Chilankur cement industry in Kadapa district.

The transport contract for supply of fly ash, limestone and other raw materials to the UltraTech cement factory was with former minister Mysoora Reddy’s brother Ramana Reddy. The BJP MLA wanted to take control of these.

Notably, there has also been internal bickering among leaders of TD and BJP in Kadapa and Anantapur districts. Differences arose between Tadipathri municipal chairman JC Prabhakar Reddy and Adinarayana Reddy over transport of fly ash from the RTPP unit at Proddatur few days ago.