AP council polls: Keen contest on cards in Jagan bastion

Kadapa is the native district and bastion of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's family.

A keen contest is on the cards in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council election from the Local Authorities Constituency (LAC) in Kadapa with ruling Congress and the loyalists of former MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy leaving no stone unturned to ensure the victory of their candidate.

Kadapa is the native district and bastion of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s family.

The election from LAC assumed significance as it is being held on March 21,ahead of the bypolls to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly segment,to be contested by Jagan himself. Kadapa is Jagan’s native district and he quit as Lok Sabha member from here.

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Congress has fielded N Varadarajula Reddy,a five-time MLA,and his principal rival is D Narayana Reddy,who enjoys the backing of Jagan’s loyalists. Jagan had announced that he would not field nominees in the Legislative Council elections.

The Congress’ poll campaign is led by Agriculture Minister and Jagan’s uncle Y S Vivekananda Reddy,who is widely popular in the district,Union Minister of State for Steel A Sai Pratap,Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy,Minority Welfare Minister Hazi Ahmadulla,Minister in-charge of the district Kanna Lakshminarayana and party MLCs Chengal Rayudu and Shaik Hussain.

Narayana Reddy reportedly enjoys the backing of Jagan and Congress MLAs Adinarayana Reddy from Jammalamadugu,G Srikanth Reddy from Rayachoty,Amaranatha Reddy of Rajampeta,Srinivasulu from Railway Kodur and Kamalamma from Badvel and former Kadapa Mayor Ravindranath Reddy.

Meanwhile,the main Opposition Telugu Desam did not field its candidate in the election and its 123 votes are crucial for victory.

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TDP has not announced its stand on MLC elections of LAC from Kadapa. While the party’s top leadership reportedly favours voting for Congress,its district unit President and MLA K Linga Reddy is said to be against this idea.

The reason is that the Congress’ nominee Varadarajula Reddy was defeated by Linga Reddy in the 2009 Assembly polls.

Meanwhile,heavy betting running into crores of rupees was on in Kadapa on who will win the election.

District Collector Sasibhusan Kumar today said all steps were being taken to ensure free and fair election.