Konathala Ramakrishna has long been a prominent political figure from the united Visakhapatnam district.
He served as an MP, MLA, and also held a cabinet position in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) government for five years.
Known as one of YSR’s closest confidants, he once held significant sway over North Andhra politics.
However, his political career took a downturn after his defeat in the 2009 elections, followed by YSR’s untimely demise.
Many believed that had YSR lived, Konathala would have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Since then, he has spent over a decade in political limbo.
Though he briefly aligned with both YSRCP and TDP, he failed to find a lasting footing in either party.
Ahead of the 2024 elections, Konathala planned to contest from Anakapalli as an MP and enter national politics. But due to alliance constraints, he was instead fielded as an MLA candidate.
Riding the coalition wave, he secured a convincing win but reportedly did not receive the recognition he deserved for his seniority and experience.
It was widely speculated that Konathala would be given a cabinet berth under the Jana Sena quota.
Despite his strong BC (Backward Class) community support base in Uttarandhra, clean image, and decades-long political experience free from corruption allegations, a ministerial position didn’t come his way.
Even Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan is believed to hold him in high regard — yet, he was overlooked.
Now, despite being a senior leader in the state, Konathala’s influence appears to be restricted to his Anakapalli constituency.
With no signs of his inclusion in the upcoming cabinet expansion, and no indication of future elevation, even his prospects in the next elections are being quietly debated within party circles.
Many believe that giving someone like Konathala a cabinet position would not only honor his service but also significantly strengthen the Jana Sena’s presence in North Andhra.
