Uncertainty is the hallmark of politics and nobody knows which politician will shift loyalty to which party ahead of elections.
It is quite common that such “Aayaa Ram and Gayaa Ram” phenomenon is witnessed before every election.
The same thing is happen in the Andhra Pradesh politics, ahead of the assembly elections scheduled early next year.
One such defection expected is that of former minister and senior Telugu Desam Party leader Palle Raghunath Reddy from Puttaparthi assembly constituency in Anantapur district.
Raghunath Reddy, who represented Puttaparthi twice in the past, is presently in-charge of the TDP in the constituency; so, he is assured of the party ticket again in the coming elections.
But he is said to be not confident of the TDP coming to power again in the state. So, he is looking up to the YSR Congress party for better prospects.
However, there is a hitch. If he continues in the TDP, he is sure to get the party ticket from Puttaparthi, as the TDP has no other alternative leader. But in YSRC, he may have to face a tough competition to get the ticket.
Sources said if Raghunath Reddy joins the YSRCP, he may not get the ticket for Puttaparthi, and so, he may have to move to Kadiri.
There is a talk that the YSRC is planning to change the sitting MLA at Kadiri and Raghunath Reddy is said to be the right choice.
Puttaparthi and Kadiri are adjacent constituencies and the leaders of both the places have considerable influence in either constituency.
Even the sociological conditions are same. Since Raghunath Reddy is not a new face for Kadiri people, he may not find much difficulty in winning the seat.
If the defection of Raghunath Reddy materialises, the YSRC will be hitting two birds at one shot. One, the TDP may not find an alternative candidate in Puttaparthi at a short notice.
Secondly, by changing the candidate in Kadiri, the YSRC can overcome the anti-incumbency and win the seat comfortably. Since Raghunath Reddy has money power, he will be a big asset for the YSRC.
But till now, he has played an active role in the TDP, including making arrangements for the padayatra of party general secretary Nara Lokesh.
So, whether the TDP will allow Raghunath Reddy to defect to the YSRC remains to be seen.
