The latest outburst by Telugu Desam Party MLA from the Gannavaram Assembly constituency, Yarlagadda Venkat Rao, against the coalition government over the award of an airport contract to a company linked to his political rival has triggered fresh speculation about his political future.
In the 2019 elections, Vallabhaneni Vamsi, contesting on a Telugu Desam Party ticket, defeated Yarlagadda Venkat Rao, who was then the YSR Congress Party candidate.
After the election, Vamsi quit the TDP and extended support to the YSRCP.
The party leadership subsequently accommodated him, even though Yarlagadda had contested the election on its behalf.
Following Vamsi’s entry into the YSRCP, Yarlagadda switched to the TDP.
He later secured the party ticket and defeated Vamsi in the subsequent Assembly election, further intensifying the political rivalry between the two leaders.
The latest flashpoint is the award of a contract related to the new terminal at Gannavaram Airport.
Yarlagadda publicly expressed his displeasure over the coalition government’s decision to award the contract to KMV Projects, whose owner is allegedly a close associate of Vallabhaneni Vamsi.
Addressing a press conference, Yarlagadda criticised the coalition leadership over the decision and announced that he would soon convene a meeting of party workers to decide his future course of action.
Soon after Yarlagadda’s remarks, Vallabhaneni Vamsi reportedly wrote to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the allegations made by the Gannavaram MLA.
The developments have fuelled political speculation in Gannavaram, with reports suggesting that Yarlagadda is unhappy with the TDP leadership and may consider returning to the YSRCP.
Political circles are also abuzz with speculation that Yarlagadda could be willing to rejoin the YSRCP if he is offered the Vijayawada Lok Sabha ticket. However, there has been no official confirmation from either side.
Against this backdrop, Yarlagadda’s proposed meeting with party workers and any response from Naidu to Vamsi’s demand for a CBI inquiry are expected to be closely watched, as they could influence the changing political dynamics in the Gannavaram constituency.
