Anantapur: YSRC has decided to field former Inspector General of Police Shaik Mohammed Iqbal from Hindupur Assembly segment against sitting MLA of Telugu Desam and film star Nandamuri Balakrishna.
Though, Abdul Ghani, former Telugu Desam MLA from Hindupur, had shifted loyalties to YSRC four months ago, after he was reportedly offered MLA ticket on the reasons of minority background, the YSRC high command changed strategy to field the former Police officer from Hindupur.
Naveen Nischal, who was from Kapu community, was away from active politics since the past few months after Abdul Ghani was taken into party.
Interestingly, Hindupur YSRC politics took a new turn after the party high command preferred to field former Police officer Shaik Mohammed Iqbal who had shifted loyalties to YSRC soon after his retirement as Rayalaseema Inspector General of Police.
While the YSRC high command concentrated on Telugu Desam home turf Hindupur where Congress and other parties couldn’t have hold ever since TD founder N.T. Rama Rao entered Hindupur in 1985. He won thrice as MLA from Hindupur and served as the chief minister twice and as Opposition leader and was the MLA till his last breath. Later, his son Nandamuri Harikrishna was elected as MLA and presently, his another son Nandamuri Balakrishna is representing Hindupur segment. Hindupur has been the area for Telugu Desam even as the Congress tried to break the fort.
YSRC sources revealed that the party has decided to field Iqbal as candidate, after assuring MLCs to both Naveen Nischal and Abdul Ghani. A senior leader from YSRC observed that TD is firm on Hindupur, following dissidence against Balakrishna and wants to gain seat.
