Nellore: Followers of YSR Congress senior leader and former legislator Katamreddy Vishnuvardhan Reddy, who is aspiring for the Kavali seat, have been pressurising him to quit the party following Janan’s decision to field sitting member Ramireddy Pratapkumar Reddy from the segment.
Mr Vishnuvardhan Reddy, who is very close to YSR’s family, has a strong following in most of the mandals in Kavali Assembly segment and he played a major role in Pratapkumar Reddy winning the seat in 2014 elections.
However, he kept away from the Padayatra of Jagan Mohan Reddy in Kavali area during February last year in view of serious differences with Kavali YSRC legislator Ramireddy Pratapkumar Reddy.
Mr Vishnuvardhan Reddy is a force to reckon with in Kavali segment and he was up in arms against the party following suspension of four of his followers at the instance of Pratapkumar Reddy.
He had said that he would join the Padayatra if the party lifted the suspension when senior party leaders invited him personally to join the Padayatra. He softened following several attempts by YSRC bigwigs to pacify him and met Jagan recently at Idupulapaya.
According to reliable sources, Mr Jagan had asked Vishnuvardhan Reddy to work for the success of the party nominee in Kavali, Pratapkumar Reddy and assured him an MLC ticket soon after coming to power. However Vishnuvardhan Reddy made it clear that he was keen on contesting and was not interested in sitting in the upper house.
Maintaining that Mr Jagan had promised the Kavali ticket to Vishnu sometime back but was asking him to work for the success of Pratapkumar Reddy now, his followers have been asking him to put in his papers. Sources close to Vishnuvardhan Reddy say that he would be consulting his followers and associates apart from former legislator, Vonteru Venugopal Reddy, over the future course of action at his residence in Allur on Saturday.
They have decided to take out a huge rally with supporters from Allur to Sri Venkateswara temple in Konda Bitragunta on January 24 or 25 and take a final call on either quitting or continuing in the YSRC after discussing with the followers, probably on the same day.
Speaking to reporters in Allur, Venugopal Reddy made it clear that they were with Jagan Mohan Reddy but they would support any candidate other than Pratapkumar Reddy in Kavali.
A close follower of Vishnuvardhan Reddy said it is very difficult for Pratapkumar Reddy to win if Vishnu and Venugopal Reddy decide to work against him.
