YSR Congress party general secretary and Rajya Sabha member V Vijay Sai Reddy, who has recently been re-appointed as regional coordinator of the party for north-Andhra districts, has reportedly received cold reception from the party leaders in Visakhapatnam.
Sai Reddy landed in Visakhapatnam airport at around midnight for a short visit.
Unlike in the past when he used to get tumultuous welcome from thousands of party leaders and workers, this time it was completely quiet.
“Hardly 10-12 leaders including former minister Gudivada Amarnath came to the airport to receive him with a bouquet and shawl. There were no slogans and no welcome banners or bill boards, as was witnessed in the past,” a local party source said.
Apparently, Sai Reddy’s reappointment as the party regional coordinator for Visakhapatnam and other north-Andhra districts was not taken kindly by the local leaders, who were expecting a senior local leader to be designated as the regional coordinator.
“When Sai Reddy was in the same post last time, there were several allegations against him of land grabbing and other land settlements. The party was split into groups during his period. He was replaced by another Rajya Sabha leader Y V Subba Reddy, who further ruined the party,” the party leader said.
As a result of these two leaders, the YSRCP was completely routed in Visakhapatnam and it could not win even a single seat, except two assembly seats in the tribal areas of erstwhile combined Vizag district.
“We don’t want imported leaders, whose interest is only to make quick money, rather than strengthening the party here. It would have been better had a strong local leader be appointed as the coordinator in Visakhapatnam,” he said.
Sai Reddy said he would try his best to strengthen the party in north Andhra and bring back its glory. He announced that he would take over as the YSRCP regional coordinator after Diwali festival.
