It has not even been a day since the mortal remains of Mekapati Goutham Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh industries and commerce minister, were consigned to flames at Udayagiri in Nellore.
The Andhra Pradesh state assembly notified that Goutham Reddy’s seat from Atmakur assembly constituency has fallen vacant.
The notification was sent to the Election Commission of India, to conduct the by-elections to the seat within six months from now.
Though it is too early to predict who would contest the by-elections from Atmakur from YSR Congress party, it is believed that YSRC president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy might field one of the family members of Mekapati in the by-elections.
Since Goutham Reddy’s two children are too young to contest the elections, Jagan might prefer the deceased minister’s wife Sri Keerthi for the by-polls, if she is interested. Otherwise, Jagan might ask Goutham’s father Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy to suggest someone.
If Goutham’s wife contests the by-polls, the other political parties including the Telugu Desam Party or Jana Sena or the Bharatiya Janata Party would not enter the fray. In that case, her election would be unanimous, unless any independent candidates file their nominations.
But any of Goutham’s brothers want to contest the elections in the event of Sri Keerthi refusing to enter politics, the opposition parties might enter the fray, making the contest inevitable.
In any case, the YSRC would win the seat hands down because of Goutham Reddy’s goodwill.
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