The cold war between Union minister D Purandeswari and Rajya Sabha member T Subbarami Reddy, over who should contest the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat in the ensuing general polls, took a new turn on Wednesday with a face-off between Purandes-wari’s husband Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and Subbarami Reddy.
If all these days Subbarami Reddy tried to touch the raw nerve in Purandeswari by laying claim to the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat which is being represented by her, now it is the turn of Purandeswari’s husband and Congress MLA D Venkateswara Rao to hit back at Reddy.
After a long silence, Rao on Wednesday fired a broadside at Reddy for claiming repeatedly that he would contest the seat in the 2014 polls.
“I have known Subbarami Reddy from the beginning of his career as a contractor, when he was arrested by the police for blackmarketing the cement intended for the construction of Nagarjuna Sagar dam,” Rao said.
He even made mockery of the film functions organised by the Rajya Sabha member, where he felicitates film personalities. Subbarami Reddy bestows useless awards on faded film stars by organising film functions, he said.
Rao dismissed Reddy’s claim that the Congress high command had assured him the Vizag Lok Sabha seat in 2014 elections. He also denied the claim of Subbarami Reddy that Purandeswari’s family had asked him to recommend to the AICC leadership to allot her the Narasaraopeta Lok Sabha seat in 2009.
Rao denied having made any such request to the party high command. The decision of Congress high command is final on who contests from where, he added.
Meanwhile, Subbarami Reddy reacted sharply at the remarks of Venkateswara Rao.
Reddy on Wednesday night said, “Rao is making such statements as he has lost mental balance. He should learn from his wife and NTR’s daughter Purandeswari on how to exercise restraint.”
He claimed Purandeswari had indeed sought his support to recommend her candidature for Narasaraopeta Lok Sabha seat in 2009 polls.
Reddy, however, said he would leave the issue of who should contest the Visakhapatnam seat to his party leadership henceforth.
Subbarami Reddy represented Visakhapatnam LS constituency long ago. However, in 2009, it was given to Purandeswari.
Since the port city has become the most preferred destination for investment in recent times, both Purandeswari and Reddy are said to be determined not to lose their grip on the constituency.
Interestingly, neither Purandeswari nor Subbarami Reddy are native to Visakhapatnam. Reddy hails from Nellore district, whereas Purandeswari’s husband Venkateswara Rao is from Prakasam district.