KURNOOL: Tourism minister Bhuma Akhila Priya representing Allagadda constituency sounds an election bugle challenging her detractors from within and outside TD that "she was game". Facing notices from AP High Court for defecting to TD, the minister made her mind explicit the other day during the first death anniversary of her late father Bhuma Nagi Reddy about her priorities. Attended by thousands of followers drawn from all the six mandals of the constituency, Akhila said that "back stabbers" were working overnight to unseat her.
"I am teased by my detractors," said the minister and resolved to teach an unforgettable lesson to them. Allagadda, a bastion of TD since 1983, saw her uncle Shekar Reddy become an MLA. Her father Bhuma Nagi Reddy, became three times MP and one time MLA. Her Mother Shoba Nagi Reddy represented Allagadda on the ticket of TD and Prajarayam Party. Akhila became MLA uncontested as she was made to enter her mother's shoes who died while campaigning for the elections.
It is widely debated that Akhila Priya had distanced herself from party strong men who were closely associated with her father Nagi Reddy. The autocractic behavior of the minister had distanced several popular leaders in the area who nurtured a grouse against her. A source at Allagadda said that Akhila was not allowing other leaders in the TD to win government contracts and she was holding an iron grip on developmental activities. The construction of13,000 houses in Nandyal, road widening activities, flyover works were all cornered by the people close to Akhila Priya, it is alleged. Kurnool MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy is her maternal uncle. Nandyal MLA Bhuma Bramhanand Reddy is her brother.
