Mekapati, Anam vie for political supremacy

Nellore: Political equations in Nellore district are changing rapidly with the resignations of two MLAs and a MP who are loyal to YSR Congress president Mr YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Earlier, the fight for supremacy in the district was between Anam Ramnarayan Reddy brothers and Nedurumilli Janardhan Reddy brothers. Nedurumilli and his supporters lost to Anam brothers. They have been dominating district politics for the past ten years.

At present, split among the Congress MLAs and emergence of YSR Congress Party have been an effect on other parties too. The Congress and YSR Congress leaders in the district have been exchanging words. Particularly, battle between Finance Minister's brother Anam Vivekanan-da Reddy and Udayagiri MLA Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy has reached a crescendo.

There were widespread discussions among the district people on resignations of Nellore MP, Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy and MLAs Chandrasekhar Reddy, and Prasanna Kumar Reddy. Mekapati brothers have come a long way in politics. Except one or two occasions, they won all the elections they had contested.

Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy entered politics in 1983. Mekapati won as MP for three times and MLA for once. He contested on Congress ticket in 1983 against senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu and lost to him. He succeeded in winning Udayagiri seat in 1985.

Later, Mekapati won as Ongole MP in 1989, Narasarao Peta MP seat in 2004 and Nellore MP in 2009. While his brother, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy lost on two occasions and won as Udayagiri MLA in 2004 and in 2009. Mekapati brothers have been successful in strengthening their political base by having strong ties with party's State and Central leaderships.

They were close to him when late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister. Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy got a MP ticket in 1985 when Rajasekhara Reddy was PCC president. YSR was instrumental to get MP ticket for Mekapati in 2004 and in 2009. Elder Mekapati maintained strong political connection with the late Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi.

Ms Gandhi campaigned for Mekapati when he contested for Udayagiri constituency in 1983 for the first time. Mekapati brothers did not concentrate on district politics as they were pre-occupied with their businesses and political careers.

However, Mekapati brothers extended support to Mr Jagan defying high command after sudden death of YSR. They chose to be with YSR Congress chief even after they were targeted by his own party men.

Apart from Mekapati brothers and Prasanna Kumar Reddy, others who were supporting Mr Jagan were all former MLAs of various constituencies in the district.

The Nellore ZP Chairman Kakani Govardhan Reddy was also backing Mr Jagn. There would be interesting events likely to emerge with Mekapati brothers with the support of former MLAs pitching for political battle with Anam borthers, who are in power.