Amid speculations over the political future of local minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, following reports that he is keen on quitting the Congress party, the guest line-up at his daughter’s wedding here Wednesday seem to have given enough indications on his next political move.
While bigwigs from Telugu Desam were in full attendance, including party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, the YSR Congress leaders were conspicuously absent with the exception of senior leader Konathala Ramakrishna, who was spotted almost alone.
There has been a talk among political circles that Ganta is seriously considering the option of going back to TDP, where he began his political innings a few years ago. While the minister is said to be also considering the other option of joining the YSRC, political analysts do not expect the second option to materialise going by the latest developments unfolding in a dramatic manner during the wedding ceremony.
Ganta has been in two minds about continuing in the ruling Congress after the party high command took a decision to bifurcate the state. While he made it publicly clear that division would spell doom for the Seemandhra region, sources said that he fears that sailing with the Congress at this juncture would put an end to his political career. Amidst these speculations, both the Telugu Desam and YSRC parties are said to have invited him to join them.
However, no firm decision was taken by Ganta’s camp as both the parties were more than happy to welcome him, but kept them guessing over his demand to accommodate his aides as MLA candidates.
Nevertheless, the presence of Chandrababu Naidu along with TDP senior leaders like Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Payyavula Keshav and other senior district leaders at the wedding sent enough hints to the political analysts about Ganta’s reentry into his parent party. Adding fuel to fire, none of the major leaders from YSRC except for Konathala and DA Somayajulu attended the wedding, though several senior leaders including YSRC president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy were invited.
Close aides of the minister said that he might make a dramatic exit from the Congress after the Assembly session or when the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill-2013 is placed in the Parliament in the last week of January. “As the election notification would be released in March or April, it would give enough time for us to prepare for the election,” sources in Ganta’s camp told TNIE.
Ayyanapatrudu Sticks to His Anti-Ganta Stand
There seems to be strong opposition to Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s reentry into Telugu Desam Party in the district. At a time when TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has almost decided to welcome his old colleague, party’s senior leader Ch Ayyannapatrudu is learnt to have expressed his displeasure over the proposal.
During a meeting attended by the TDP district leaders here Wednesday, Chandrababu Naidu is learnt to have brought up the issue in the presence of Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh, MLA Payyavula Keshav and other senior leaders. While other leaders including party district president Bandaru Satyanarayana welcomed it, Ayyannapatrudu reportedly took strong objection to it and questioned as to how can a leader who changed three parties within five years, help TDP in coming back to power. Though the party leaders tried to pacify him, Ayyannapatrudu is learnt to have refused to relent.
Interestingly, it was Ayyannapatrudu who brought Ganta into TDP when the latter decided to pursue politics. Later, Ganta, who was a TDP Parliament member, shifted to Praja Rajyam Party floated by actor-turned-politician K Chiranjeevi in 2009 and went on to become a minister after PRP was merged with the Congress. Ever since, he has become a close lieutenant to chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, but is reportedly planning to bid adieu to the Congress party after it took decision to create Telangana state.