Entrenched Political Families In Fray For ZP Chiefs’ Posts In Rayalaseema Districts
Several influential leaders in the districts of Rayalaseema are planning to place their family members or relatives in the top posts.
Kurnool: With the nomination process for zilla parishad (ZP) elections ending, prominent political leaders in Rayalaseema are focusing on securing the ZP chairperson posts.
Elections of ZP chairpersons are indirect.
The elected zilla parishad territorial constituency (ZPTC) members elect one among themselves as the ZP chairperson.
Several influential leaders in the districts of Rayalaseema are planning to place their family members or relatives in the top posts.
In YSR Kadapa district, Putta Narasimha Reddy, father of TDP’s Kamalapuram MLA Putta Krishna Chaitanya Reddy, is seeking the chairperson’s post.
Narasimha Reddy remained at the Zilla Parishad office throughout the three-day nomination process, reportedly coordinating with candidates coming to file their nominations for the ZPTC posts.
At the same time, BJP MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy from Jammalamadugu has announced that his nephew C. Rajesh Reddy would be the candidate for the YSR Kadapa district chairperson’s post.
Thus, the two prominent contestants for Kadapa district ZP chairperson’s post are Putta Narasimha Reddy and C. Rajesh Reddy.
In Kurnool district, Rudraphani Goud, son of former minister K.E. Prabhakar, is among the contenders for the Kurnool zilla parishad chairperson’s post.
K. Bojjamma, daughter of Kappatralla Venkatappa Naidu, has also staked her claim.
Political negotiations are expected to shape the contest for the ZP chairperson’s post in Kurnool district.
In Nandyal district, minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy has indicated that his younger brother B.C. Rajareddy could enter the race.
Several leaders from Nandyal and Allagadda are also seeking the chairperson’s post for their relatives.
In Sri Sathya Sai district, former minister and current MLA Paritala Sunitha is reportedly seeking the chairperson post for her son Paritala Sriram.
With the Rapthadu constituency reserved for scheduled castes, Sriram has filed his nomination as a ZPTC candidate from Nallacheruvu mandal in Kadiri constituency.
Ministers Savitha and Satya Kumar Yadav are also expected to field candidates in Sathya Sai district.
The Tirupati zilla parishad chairperson post is drawing considerable interest after it has been reserved for a scheduled caste community.
Former minister K. Parasaratnam’s daughter Shalini has filed her nomination as a ZPTC candidate.
Former MLA H. Hemalatha has filed her nominations from Nagalapuram and Satyavedu mandals, while P. Krishnaiah, husband of former union minister Panabaka Lakshmi, has submitted two sets of nominations.
Significantly, in Chittoor district, builders and businesspersons are backing candidates aligned with their respective groups in the race for the chairperson post.
With several influential political families already putting forward relatives for the top posts, questions are being raised about the dedicated party workers getting opportunities.