Dharmana likely to sail with Jagan
VISAKHAPATNAM: Is former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao looking for a shift to the YSR Congress? Though not final as yet, indications are Rao, who lost his ministerial berth after the CBI charge-sheeted him in Jagan's case, has more or less decided to sail with YSR's son.
According to sources, the former minister intends to contest the 2014 elections from Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency instead of to the Assembly. His idea in switching loyalty primarily stems from the fear that the Congress could deny him a ticket citing the ongoing CBI investigation.
When Rao makes a formal announcement, expected towards the later part of this month, it would be odd in more than one way. One, it means he intends to resurrect his career through the very person who was the cause of all his troubles - Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Two, while in the Cabinet, Rao was one of the most strident critics of Jagan. Like most others are intending to do, Prasada Rao is also expected to utilise the Samaikyandhra slogan of YSRC as the reason for shifting to that party.
Interestingly, Prasada Rao's entry into YSRC will also mean patching up within his family, particularly with his MLA-brother Dharmana Krishna Das, who represents Narsannapeta constituency.
He was among the first batch of Congress legislators to have sided with Jagan. When a byelection took place in 2012 after Krishna Das resigned along with other YSRC loyalist MLAs, Prasada Rao put up his other brother - Ramadasu - as Congress candidate against Krishna Das. However, Krishna Das prevailed over Rama Das by a margin of around 8,000 votes.
However, neither Prasada Rao's entry into YSRC nor his idea to fight for the Lok Sabha is expected to be smooth. Quite a few leaders of Srikakulam have submitted petitions to Jagan Mohan Reddy urging him not to entertain the former minister.
Even if Jagan finally chooses to welcome Prasada Rao, he is likely to face a tough fight from TDP's Rama Mohan Naidu, son of Yerran Naidu who died in a road accident last year. Union Minister Killi Krupa Rani may be fielded again by the Congress. All three of them belong to the backward classes.
News Posted: 15 November, 2013
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