The latest reshuffling of assembly candidates of YSR Congress party in Prakasam district and denial of party ticket to sitting MP from Ongole Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy has created a virtual chaotic situation in the party in the district.
Former minister and Ongole MLA Balineni Srinivas Reddy, who had hitherto been calling shots in the district party politics, is feeling suffocated with the latest changes and entry of new forces of the party from other districts.
Though he had been sulking ever since he was dropped from the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy cabinet a couple of years ago, Balineni has still been controlling the party activities in Prakasam.
Because of his clout in the district, even Jagan has not been able to drop him, though many of his actions caused a lot of damage to the party.
While denial of party ticket to Magunta for Ongole MP seat has terribly upset Balineni, yet another latest development is said to have hurt his ego.
That is the overnight transfer of Prakasam district superintendent of police Malika Garg to Tirupati, without the knowledge of Balineni.
In her place, the Jagan government has shifted Tirupati SP Parameshwar Reddy to Prakasam, much to the chagrin of the former minister.
Obviously, he is suspecting that the transfer was done at the instance of Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, whose name has been finalised for Ongole MP seat.
Parameshwar Reddy is said to be very close to Chevireddy, as Chandragiri falls in the Tirupati district. Moreover, his son Mohit Reddy is Tirupati Urban Development Authority chairman.
A furious Balineni reportedly asked the YSRCP top leadership as to whether he should continue in politics or not.
The party leaders tried to pacify him saying the transfers were effected without the knowledge of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
In fact, even the opposition TDP leaders have raised objection over the transfer of Malika Garg to Tirupati and shifting of Parameshwar Reddy to Prakasam, just only to help Chevireddy who is contesting from Ongole LS seat.
After Balineni raised a lot of hue and cry and started blackmailing the party, the Jagan government put a halt to the transfers and asked the two SPs not to get relieved until further orders.
Sources say the transfer of SPs is just a trial in Prakasam district YSRCP politics. In the coming days, there will be a full-fledged cinema in the district and it remains to be seen whether it is good or bad for the YSRCP.
