Kurnool: Kurnool district is witnessing new friendships for the April 11 elections, with traditional rivals sharing the same stage. This has caused its own set of challenges.
Rivals Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy and K.E Krishnamurthy in the Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency, Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy and Gouru Venkata Reddy in Nandikotkur, Kothakota Prakash Reddy and D. Vishnuvardhan Reddy in Kodumur and Gagnula Prabhakar Reddy and Irigela Rampulla Reddy patch-ups were worked out recently by the TD and YSRC to firm up their political prospects.
While deputy chief minister Krishnamurthy and former Union minister Surya Prakash Reddy joined hands, the victims of their politics who are serving jail terms and their family members cannot reconcile with the latest reality.
A notorious factionist, Kapattrala Venkatappa Naidu who survived 11 murder attempts was kil-led by his rivals allegedly supported by Mr Surya Prakash Reddy 12 years ago. Nearly 20 members were convicted and are undergoing jail terms, including Maddilety Naidu, a key follower of Mr Surya Prakash Reddy.
In 2017, YSRC leader Churukulapadu Naraya-na Reddy, a relative of Mr Surya Prakash Reddy was killed by rivals, alle-gedly supported by Mr Krishnamurthy’s family members.
In the Nandikotkur Assembly segment, there is a long standing faction history between former MLA Rajasekhar Reddy and Venkata Reddy. 50 people on both sides have been killed in the rivalry.
In the Kodumur Assembly constituency, factionism between former MLA Kothakota Prakash Reddy and D. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy resulted in many of their supporters losing their lives in clashes.
At Allagadda, when the families of faction leaders Gangula Prabhakar Reddy and Irigela Rampulla Reddy joined han-ds, their followers were taken aback. In Banaga-napalle Assembly constituency, the families of Challa Ramakrishna Reddy and Katasani Rambhupal Reddy have a faction history stretching over three decades.
