The sudden return of Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy into the YSR Congress party on Tuesday, two months after quitting the party and joining the Congress led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s sister Y S Sharmila, has kicked up interesting speculations in the political circles.
The Mangalagiri MLA had been sulking ever since he was denied the ticket from Mangalagiri again and feeling sidelined in the party. He was particularly upset with YSRCP general secretary and advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy.
Ramakrishna Reddy took the decision to come back into the party after holding prolonged discussions with YSRCP general secretary V Vijay Sai Reddy the previous day. He was also convinced by his brother and MP Alla Ayodhyarami Reddy to return to the part.
According to sources, Jagan has decided to send Ramakrishna Reddy to Sattenapalli assembly constituency for contesting the polls. For quite some time, there were reports that Jagan was looking for a strong candidate to fight against former minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, who is contesting as Telugu Desam Party candidate in Sattenapalli.
Jagan is of the view that sitting MLA from Sattenapalli Ambati Rambabu is not the right candidate to fight against Kanna, who has a strong hold over the constituency. So, he thought Ramakrishna Reddy is a suitable candidate for the same and hence, made efforts to bring him back into the party.
So, what is the fate of Ambati Rambabu? Sources said the chief minister has proposed to send Ambati to Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency, which has fallen vacant due to defection of sitting MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry to the Jana Sena Party.
Apparently, the Kapu factor would also help Ambati in Machilipatnam; and moreover, he has good equations with local MLA Perni Nani, unlike Balashowry. Hence, it would work out for him, sources said.
