Date:04/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030411440400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Nellore

YSR's efforts fail to quell rebel trouble

Staff Reporter

Strong opposition to Sesha Reddy's candidature in Nellore

NELLORE: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's directive to party legislators to bury the hatchet and work for the victory of the candidate for the Legislative Council seat under the local body quota -- C. V. Sesha Reddy -- appears to have not gone well at ground level with several corporators, ZPTCs and MPTCs in the district still opposing his candidature.

"It is not that easy even for legislators to muster support for the Mr. Sesha Reddy as he had worked against many Congress corporators in the corporation and local body elections," said a senior Congress functionary, who is also a ZPTC member.

Reservations

Many insiders have serious reservations over Sarvepalli MLA Adala Prabhakara Reddy's assurance to the Chief Minister that he would work for the party's official nominee. "The contractor-turned politician will never extend his support to his bete noire Mr. Sesha Reddy," they claimed.

So is the case with Nellore MLA Anam Vivekanada Reddy, Rapur MLA and former Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Allur MLA K. Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Atmakur MLA Kommireddy Laksmaiah Naidu. All the legislators, however, asserted that they would work only for the victory of the official candidate.

Meanwhile, Congress rebel Bommireddy Raghavendra Reddy has got assurance from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The rebel candidate met party president Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy a few days ago and is trying to rope in the Left parties, said a TDP leader.