Kurnool: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appear to be closely moving their pawns to ensure victory to their party candidates in the ensuing elections to Legislative Council.

Mr Jagan, who is currently touring his native Kadapa district, is scheduled to meet YSRC MLAs from the district and other adjoining areas and chalk out a strategy to continue his winning streak in the district.

Meanwhile, TD national president Chandrababu Naidu, during his recent visit to Kurnool, called upon the cadre to work hard to ensure candidates' victory.

“The TD wins general elections easily. But when it comes to MLCs, we are not that effective. Work hard and leave no stone unturned,” he told his party men.

The TD has fielded realtor-cum-industrialist K.J. Reddy, while the YSRC is backing Vennapusa Gopal Reddy for Rayalaseema West Graduates' constituency. In Kadapa too, Naidu impressed upon the cadre to work unitedly and emerge victorious.

He had welcomed 19 ZPTC members belonging to the YSRC in Kadapa and set the stage for turncoats to come in hordes, a party activist said.

YSRC district president Aakepati Amarnath Reddy said the TD was playing mind game by propagating the idea that its members were defecting to join the TD.
“No one is leaving us. Of the 19 who were shawled by Naidu the other day, three have already reported back at party office. This shows how they are luring our party members,” he said.

Rayachoti MLA Gadikota Srikanth Reddy said Chief Minister Naidu's dream to win MLC elections was a fantasy. “In Kadapa itself, how can a gap of 221 seats of territorial representatives be filled,” he asked.

He advised Naidu not to harbour such wishful thoughts and allow the democratic process to be completed without any fear or fervour. After Jammalamadugu MLA C. Audinarayan Reddy defected to the TD, his followers among territorial representatives, too, followed suit, denting YSRC support base in the district.

The TD is confident that several territorial representatives were joining the ruling party with an aim to develop their respective areas. Whichever party garners support of 423 members would be having an upper hand in the elections.