He has won on a TDP ticket, but has later defected to the ruling YSRCP. But he is now finding that the road is bumpy and the ride is not too easy. He is now finding that there is great opposition from the local cadre. He is now limping from controversy to controversy and from challenge to challenge in the YSRCP. He is said to be ruing his decision to latch on the YSRCP bandwagon.

We are talking about MLA Vasupalli Ganesh. He is one of the four TDP MLAs who won in the 2019 elections. But soon after winning, he found the grass was greener on the other side and immediately switched sides. He perhaps felt things would all be hunky dory. Now, he is finding that the YSRCP cadre and leader are opposing every step of the way. They are creating ruckus over everything for him.

At least three corporators are going hammer and tongs against Vasupalli Ganesh. Corporator Sadiq has openly criticized the MLA saying that he was not implementing the directives of YS Jagan on fee exemption in his colleges. He and two other corporators – Kandula Nagaraju and Bhaskar Rao – openly slammed the MLA for forcibly removing the kiosks near the school owned by the MLA.

In several areas, the YSRCP cadre and the corporators are inciting the locals against Vasupalli Ganesh. For instance, Gnanapuram colony residents said that the MLA had duped them by making them pay money for pucca houses. They mobbed the MLA and gave him torrid time. Sources close to the MLA say that he is now rueing his joining the YSRCP.

There is one big dilemma that is haunting most of the YSRCP MLAs these days. They are wary of going to the rural interiors. The MLAs are worried that the people would take them to task if they venture into the rural side. The leaders have no answers to the searing questions that the people are set to ask them.

The YSRCP came to power with the promise of “Rajanna Rajyam” and the people overwhelmingly voted for them in the hope that there would be significant development in their villages. But, though it has been two years, there is no material change in their lives. Though the government is implementing Navaratnas, which personally benefit them, there is no development in terms of infrastructure, amenities and facilities.

As a result, the MLAs are afraid of venturing into the rural interiors. They do not know how to reply to the volley of questions from the people. Another major problem is that they do not have any information or data about the schemes being implemented and the beneficiaries identified. All these details are with the village volunteers, who are not accountable to them.

To add to their woes, the state government has not released its share of the funds for rural development. What more, the funds provided by the Central Government have been diverted for other purposes. As a result, pending arrears are piling up. Hence, the contractors are not willing to take up any developmental work. The MLAs are now unable to meet the people and tell them about the achievements of the government.

The ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh seem to be gradually losing its political hold on tribal constituencies.

This has been reflected in recent local bodies polls in Paduru constituency where opposition TDP made a comeback by bagging few Mandal Praja Parishads.

YSRCP MLA K.Bhagya Lakshmi was elected as MLA twice from Paleru in 2014 and 2019 with a big majority.

The constituency dominated by tribals favoured YSRCP since 2014. However, the tribals are losing faith on YSRCP after Jagan government failed to fulfill the promises made to tribals in 2019 Assembly elections.

Jagan promised to give pensions to tribals by relaxing age limit from 50 years to 45 years. But he failed to fulfill it.

Also the construction of government hospital to provide better medical facilities also failed to progress even after more than two and half years.

The Jagan government also imposed restrictions on extending welfare schemes to tribals who own more than 5 acres of land.

All these fuelled anger among tribals against YSRCP.

Added to this, the groupism in YSRCP has further added to the woes of the party.

YSRCP Araku MP G.Madhavi is trying to contest as MLA from Paduru in 2024 Assembly polls.

This is strongly opposed by MLA Bhagya Lakshmi and her supporter. The leaders and cadre in Paderu and Araku are divided between these two lady leaders, who are trying to gain upperhand over the other.

Till recently, they were best buddies. But now they are at loggerheads with one another. Now they are sniping at each other and are trying to undercut one another. The reason? A swashbuckling MP’s adventurism.

YSRCP MP from Hindupuram Gorantla Madhav and Pattikonda MLA Sridevi belong to the same party but are now fighting one another.

MP Gorantla Madhav is said to be eyeing Pattikonda assembly constituency and is planning to contest for the assembly from the same constituency in the 2024 elections. The MP these days is regularly visiting Pathikonda to mobilize his community. Madhav is from Kuruva community and is holding meetings in Pathikonda. Kurvas by the way are in a majority in the constituency.

Naturally, MLA Sridevi is alarmed and is feeling insecure. She sees Madhav’s adventurism as a threat to her political career. She has been opposing his forays into her constituency as Pathikonda is in Kurnool and Hindupur is in Anantapur. Recently when Madhav held a huge meeting, she had all the flexis and banners removed from the area. This has led to friction with the MP.

Sridevi is now said to be adopting a non-cooperative attitude towards Madhav’s visits to Pattikonda. Sources say that she is planning to take the issue to the notice of party chief and big boss YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. As these differences simmer, both the leaders have given a go by to welfare and development of the two constituencies.

Several of the YSRCP first-time MLAs are getting brazen by each passing day. Several first-timers, who mainly won riding on the tide of a massive YS Jagan wave in 2019, are said to be unsure of a ticket in 2024 and have apparently decided to go on a collection spree. Several complaints about such MLAs have already reached YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In Nellore, a Rajya Sabha MP himself had to complain to YS Jagan about the indiscriminate collection spree of an MLA. When the issue came to YS Jagan’s notice, he is said to have told the MP that the MLA would not be given ticket in the 2024 elections. Another MLA from Palnadu area is accused of collecting up to Rs 3 crore every month. This MLA is said to be collecting Mamools for every apartment constructed in his area. IN case of another MLA, the high command is said to be very upset as he is promoting gambling and betting in a big way.

Ditto with a couple of MLAs from Rayalaseema. In Prakasam distrct, an MLA was given an Innova for securing a transfer for a CI in his district. Some MLAs are accused of crossing the jurisdiction and collecting bribes from the neighbouring assembly constituency. Complaints about these MLAs are said to be pending with YS Jagan.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Prashant Kishore’s team will conduct a survey and prepare a list of the most corrupt and least working MLAs. Most of these MLAs would not be given tickets in the 2024 elections. The party insiders are now said to be hotly debating about who will retain the party tickets and who would be shown the door.

A row over removal of flexis has erupted between YSRCP leaders and cadre in Pattikonda Assembly segment.

YSRCP Hindupur MP Gorantla Madhav has been frequently visiting Pattikonda Assembly segment these days which is being opposed by YSRCP Pattikonda MLA Sreedevi.

MP Madhav is visiting Pattikonda constituency to attend Kuruva caste meetings, to which he belongs.

People from Kuruva caste are setting up flexis of Madhav in large numbers welcoming him to Pattikonda.

MLA Sreedevi and her supporters are not tolerating a leader from Anantapur district getting so much attention in their own Kurnool district.

Panchayat officials removed all the flexis of Madhav as soon as he left Pattikonda constituency. This led to protests from Kuruva community members who alleged that it was done as per the orders of MLA Sreedevi.

Kuruva caste people questioned how can the flexis of a ruling party MP be removed by a ruling party MLA.

People from Kuruva caste constitute majority of voters in Pattikonda Assembly segment.

MLA Sreedevi and her supporters fear that Madhav is trying to secure Pattikonda Assembly ticket in 2024 Assembly polls and for that reason he is expanding his cadre base in Pattikonda under the guise of Kuruva caste meetings. They are taking steps to prevent political entry of Madhav into Pattikonda and planning to complain to YSRCP chief and CM Jagan against Madhav.

The ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh is witnessing simmering differences between its own MLAs in few districts day after day creating troubles for party leadership besides causing embarrassment.

Latest, the “Palnadu politics” in YSRCP have become a big headache for party leadership.

It led to tussle between YSRCP Macharla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and YSRCP Gurazala MLA Kasu Mahesh Reddy.

YSRCP leaders accuse Ramakrishna Reddy of interfering in neighbouring Gurazala constituency and creating troubles for Mahesh Reddy.

They say Ramakrishna Reddy is doing all that to ensure Gurazala Assembly ticket for his brother Venkatrama Reddy in 2024 Assembly polls.

Ramakrishna Reddy has hatched a conspiracy to deny MLA ticket to sitting MLA Kasu Mahesh Reddy in 2024 Assembly polls.

Mahesh Reddy and his followers are expressing severe anger at Ramakrishna Reddy interfering in Gurazala constituency instead of confining himself to his own Macharla constituency.

Ramakrishna Reddy is running a negative campaign against Kasu Mahesh Reddy stating that Mahesh Reddy lost voters confidence in Gurazala and YSRCP will lose this seat in 2024 if party gives ticket to Mahesh Reddy.

Ramakrishna Reddy is publicising YSRCP’s not so impressive performance in Gurazala constituency under the leadership of Mahesh Reddy in recent municipal polls where TDP bagged significant wards while he managed to secure a big majority for YSRCP in his Macharla constituency.

Ramakrishna Reddy is taking part in few programmes in Guruzala constituency frequently which is being strongly opposed by Mahesh Reddy supporters.

Speculations are rife in YSRCP circles that YSRCP MP from Ongole constituency Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy is planning to quit YSRCP soon and join TDP.

‘Group politics’ in YSRCP in Prakasam district are cited as reasons for Magunta planning to quit YSRCP.

YSRCP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s close relatives and top leaders in YSRCP from Prakasam district, namely minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy and TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy are reportedly creating troubles for Magunta in Ongole and forcing him to quit YSRCP.

While Balineni wants his son to establish as a strong leader in Ongole, Subba Reddy also wants to increase his hold on his native district Prakasam.

Both these leaders want Magunta to quit YSRCP to achieve their goals.

They reportedly sidelined Magunta in the party in Prakasam district and humiliating him.

Magunta is reportedly very upset at party leadership ignoring him and he is also not being invited to participate even in development programmes launched in his constituency.

Magunta was three time MP from Congress in 1998, 2004 and 2009.

After bifurcation of AP in 2014, he quit Congress and joined TDP.

Though he lost 2014 Lok Sabha polls, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu nominated him as MLC.

However, he quit TDP and joined YSRCP just before 2019 general elections and won Ongole Lok Sabha seat.

Magunta wants to join TDP again where he got respect.

In an attempt to defend Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s OTS scheme for housing, a key minister ended up making a joke of himself. The incident occurred in Chittoor district. The minister organized a press conference to defend the OTS.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the scheme was a very good one and that it would benefit the people, especially the poor. He called upon the people not to have any misgivings about the scheme. During the press meet, he fumbled for answers. As the media began asking questions, he suddenly went blank and said that he has no knowledge of the scheme. He told the media that he would get the information from his associate.

Then, he asked his PA about the scheme. The PA too feigned ignorance.

Then the minister simply rushed into the anteroom and called up the secretary of his minister to get details. However, the secretary could not pick up the phone. After about 10 minutes, the mediapersons left the place. The minister then was upset. He is said to have fired at his staff and said that he should not have been given such heavy topics about which his knowledge is minimal.

Sources say that the minister usually avoids the media and is known to fumble even on normal issues. It is also interesting that the minister came to the press meet without any prior knowledge of the subject he was tasked to defend. This has now become the talk of the town.

The YSRCP has always criticised TDP chief and former CM Chandrababu Naidu for having a residence in Hyderabad. Whenever repairs are undertaken to this house, this is made out to be a big issue. Similarly, the ruling party raises the issue of Chandrababu not having a residence of his own in the Amravati area. They point out that YS Jagan has built a house for himself in Tadepalli and say that he is functioning out of that building as the CM of the state.

Interestingly, those who have all along criticised Chandrababu for building a house in Hyderabad, are now trying to build houses in the very same place. If sources are to be believed, at least six ministers of Andhra Pradesh have now got houses constructed in Hyderabad. These leaders wanted a house in Hyderabad in view of their business interests.

Sources say that the real estate sector has grown multi-fold in Telangana while in AP, there is a stagnation in Andhra Pradesh. Confusion over the state capital and other political issues seem to be having their impact on the realty sector in AP. On the contrary, the real estate is zooming on the fast lane in Telangana.

But what is interesting is that six ministers are getting their new houses ready in Hyderabad in one go. They are said to be keeping this a secret and want no public glare. Sources say that these ministers want to make investments in Hyderabad as making investments in AP could land them in controversies. Sources say that more ministers could follow suit.