Hyderabad: The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh is desperately looking for a suitable candidate to take on its former leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Vijayalakshmi in the two forthcoming by-elections.
As it heads for the all-important by-elections to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies on May 8, Congress is struggling to select someone to take on Jagan and his mother.
The by-election was caused following Jagan's resignation from the Lok Sabha as well as the Congress on November 29 last year.
Jagan, son of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, will fight for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat while Vijayalakshmi will vie for the Pulivendula seat which she had vacated along with his son.
Initially, it was expected that Congress would pit state Agriculture Minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, Jagan's uncle, against his sister-in-law in Pulivendula, a family stronghold.
Viveka, younger brother of late YSR, retired as a member of the state Legislative Council on March 29 and has to get elected to the state legislature within six months to continue as a minister.
Since biennial elections to the Legislative Council have concluded, the only option for the Congress is to field him from Pulivendula.
Though Viveka today offered to step down as minister, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy refused to accept his resignation since there is a constitutional provision that enables him to continue in the post for six more months.
Initially, the name of Viveka's son-in-law Narreddy Rajasekhara Reddy was put in circulation for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat but the move was strongly opposed within Congress as Narreddy was perceived to be no match for Jagan.
As it heads for the all-important by-elections to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies on May 8, Congress is struggling to select someone to take on Jagan and his mother.
The by-election was caused following Jagan's resignation from the Lok Sabha as well as the Congress on November 29 last year.
Initially, it was expected that Congress would pit state Agriculture Minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, Jagan's uncle, against his sister-in-law in Pulivendula, a family stronghold.
Advertisement
Since biennial elections to the Legislative Council have concluded, the only option for the Congress is to field him from Pulivendula.
Advertisement
Initially, the name of Viveka's son-in-law Narreddy Rajasekhara Reddy was put in circulation for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat but the move was strongly opposed within Congress as Narreddy was perceived to be no match for Jagan.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
NMC Withdraws Letter Of Permission Issued To Medical College In Andhra Pradesh Big Setback For Jagan Reddy As 2 Rajya Sabha MPs Resign, Set To Join TDP Chandrababu Naidu Compares Jagan Mohan Reddy To Drug Lord Pablo Escobar Arvind Kejriwal Resigns After Choosing Atishi As His Replacement Video: Leopard Spotted Crossing Road In Bengaluru's Electronic City AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks Italy PM Giorgia Meloni Wishes PM Modi On His 74th Birthday "We Will Not Spare You": Nitin Gadkari Warns Contractors Over Poor Roads Kangana Ranaut Says Sold Mumbai Property After 'Emergency' Postponed Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.