Former minister and senior YSR Congress party legislator from Ongole assembly constituency Balineni Srinivas Reddy seems to be thinking too much of himself and is virtually blackmailing the party with regard to Ongole Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming elections in Andhra Pradesh.
While party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy conceded his demand for releasing funds for the housing scheme in his constituency as a pre-condition for his contest in the elections, Balineni is still putting more and more demands before the high command.
He is insisting that the party should give the Lok Sabha ticket to his good frield and sitting MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, but Jagan is firm that there is no question of conceding his demand. So, Balineni is coming up with other alternatives.
During the meeting with YSRCP general secretaries Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and V Vijay Sai Reddy on Tuesday, Balineni told them there was no question of accepting any other leader – be it Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy or Roja or any other leader for Ongole.
Instead, he suggested that the party should give Ongole Lok Sabha ticket to his son Praneeth Reddy.
“If it is done, I shall campaign for the party in the entire district. Otherwise, no,” Balineni told them.
Sajjala said Jagan will not accept the same; instead, the party will Ongole assembly ticket to Praneeth Reddy in place of Balineni. This has stunned him and he said, even if it done, he will not accept Chevireddy or some other candidate.
Then, he suggested that it would be okay if Jagan gives the Ongole ticket to Magunta’s son Raghava Reddy, but Sajjala and Sai Reddy told him it is not possible. They told him they would get back to him after discussing with Jagan.
It is learnt Jagan will not succumb to Balineni’s pressure tactics. He is learnt to have told the mediators to convey to the MLA to take it or leave it on the Ongole MP seat.
