As elections are fast approaching, the squabbles among the aspirants are taking new twists and turns in Andhra Pradesh politics. It was Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and Anam Ramanarayana Reddy who, the other day, made allegations of phone tapping and attempt to murder against their own party leadership.

Now, it was the turn of Yarlagadda Venkatrao to make high voltage charges against MLAs Kodali Nani and Vallabhaneni Vamsi. While Nani had been with the YSR Congress for some years, Vamsi defected to the party from the TDP after the 2019 general election.

Vamsi’s entry into the party ruined the chances of Yarlagadda Venkatrao from contesting once again from Gannavaram Assembly constituency. Venktrao lost to Vamsi in the 2019 general election and was subsequently made the chairman of the Krishna District Central Cooperative Bank.

He had pinned hopes of contesting once again from Gannavaram but lost the hopes with the entry of Vamsi into the party. Vamsi and Kodali Nani are close friends and have total grip over the Gannavaram and Gudivada Assembly segments.

Having lost the hope of contesting again, Venkatrao is haunting both Vamsi and Nani day in and day out. He is openly criticising both the legislators and is said to be joining the opposition TDP in the months to come.

The situation is no different in Mylavaram Assembly constituency in the NTR district. Sitting MLA Vasantha Venkata Krishna Prasad is facing stiff opposition from minister for Housing, Jogi Ramesh, who is eyeing on contesting again from here. He is currently representing the Pedana Assembly constituency in Krishna district.

Jogi Ramesh lost the 2014 elections from Mylavaram constituency and wants to test his fate once again from here. Unable to withstand the pressure being mounted by the minister, the MLA is looking at the TDP and is making negative comments against the minister at the public meetings.

Former minister and YSR Congress firebrand leader Kodali Nani stood by his friend and Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi. He declared that Vamsi would be the party candidate for the 2024 Assembly elections. He made this statement at the party’s Gannavaram Assembly constituency plenary held late on Thursday.

Nani had to make this statement as senior YSR Congress leaders Dr Dutta Ramachandra Rao and Yarlagadda Venkatrao have been making allegations of corruption against Vamsi for the past one year. While Dr Ramachandra Rao had lodged a complaint against Vamsi with the party top leadership, Venkatrao declared his candidature for the next round of elections.

Clearing air, Kodali Nani said that Vamsi would be the party candidate and had asked the rank and file of the party to support Vamsi. While Vamsi was unavailable for the plenary as he was in hospital on health grounds, both Dr Ramachandra Rao and Venkatrao skipped the plenary in the constituency.

The differences with the MLA for senior leaders have gone to the extent of no point of return and the leaders, both Dr Ramachandra Rao and Venkatrao are not ready to share the dais with Vamsi. Though chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy himself had intervened and settled the differences between Vamsi and Venkatrao two years ago, things have not changed.

Meanwhile, Venkatrao is said to be preparing the ground to move to the opposition TDP for the next elections. His absence at the party’s plenary is also being analysed as he had made up his mind to switch loyalties.

Jagan Mohan Reddy appointed Venkatrao as the chairman of the Krishna District Cooperative Central Bank, when Vamsi crossed the fence and joined the ruling party. Sources say that Venkatrao is planning to join the TDP and be the candidate for the next elections. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu too is said to have given clearance for Venkatrao.