As indications suggest that the schedule for the assembly and general elections is expected in the first week of March, YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has intensified the exercise for announcing the final list of candidates.
Thus far, the YSRCP has released seven lists with changes in more than 70 seats, including the dropping of sitting MLAs and MPs and reshuffling of the constituencies of others.
While YSRCP leaders anticipate the release of the eighth list at any moment, sources suggest that Jagan might release the final list with all the candidates’ names instead of doing so in phases.
It is understood that the YSRCP president is likely to make some alterations in the seven lists announced so far, besides undertaking significant reshuffling in the constituencies of the remaining candidates.
Sources indicate that there may be several surprises in the list, which could be released by next week.
Among the changes being discussed within the party is the dropping of Kurnool MLA Md Hafeez Khan, who might be replaced by Ilyas Basha.
In the Nellore (city) constituency, where Jagan had previously announced the name of Md Khaleel Ahmed, a close aide of sitting MLA P Anil Kumar Yadav, there was controversy leading to the resignation of party MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy.
Now, Jagan is reportedly considering dropping even Khaleel Ahmed and replacing him with popular comedian Ali as the candidate.
Furthermore, the YSRCP chief might replace sitting MLA from Jaggayyapet, Samineni Udaya Bhanu, a prominent Kapu leader, with a BC candidate, as there have been reports suggesting that Udaya Bhanu might not win the seat.
Similarly, Jagan may remove Simhadri Ramesh Babu, who was recently appointed as the party in-charge for the Machilipatnam MP seat. Local MLAs have apparently informed Jagan that Ramesh Babu will not be able to challenge sitting MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry, who is set to contest on the Jana Sena ticket.
The YSRCP chief is contemplating either bringing in former MP Konakalla Narayana from the TDP or relocating state irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu from Sattenapalli to the Machilipatnam LS seat. In Sattenapalli, Jagan plans to field Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy.
Many such changes are expected in the final list.
“The chief minister is awaiting the TDP's announcement of its list of candidates in the next three or four days; following which, he will make further adjustments accordingly,” sources added.
