As the municipal elections draw closer, the political atmosphere in Nellore district has suddenly heated up, with internal differences within the Telugu Desam Party coming out into the open and rival factions staking claim to the proposed Nellore Municipal Corporation Mayor post.
While Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy and his wife, Kovur MLA Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy, are reportedly backing Roop Kumar Yadav as their choice for Mayor, Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy wants the post to go to one of his supporters.
Interestingly, it is not yet clear whether the Mayor’s post will be reserved for the Open Category, Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST). A case concerning the corporation is also pending before the High Court, adding to the uncertainty.
So far, Nellore Municipal Corporation has never had an Open Category Mayor since its formation, with the post going through various reservations, including Open Category women, BC and ST women. Given the rotation system, there is a possibility that it could go to the Open Category this time.
However, Prashanthi Reddy is understood to be firmly insisting that the Mayor’s post should go to her preferred candidate, Roop Kumar Yadav. She is reportedly using her influence with the TDP leadership to push his candidature.
The demand, however, is reportedly not finding acceptance among several TDP leaders in the district, including the two ministers from Nellore district and leaders within the corporation limits.
Though many are said to be reluctant to openly oppose her, discontent is reportedly simmering within the party.
Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy is opposing the dominance of the Vemireddy couple.
His contention is that if the Mayor candidate cannot win without his organisational and political support in the Rural constituency, he should have a say in selecting the candidate.
Sridhar Reddy has spent considerable time strengthening the TDP’s political base in his constituency.
The political situation in Nellore Rural is now substantially different from what it was earlier, with the YSR Congress Party reportedly facing difficulties in finding strong candidates for several corporation divisions.
Sridhar Reddy is believed to be demanding that the TDP leadership consult him while selecting the candidate for the Mayor’s post.
Several other names and interests have also emerged. Vijayabhaskar Reddy, associated with Narayana educational institutions, is reportedly interested in the Mayor’s post.
However, sources say Minister P Narayana is believed to have discouraged the proposal, apparently to avoid a confrontation with the Vemireddy camp.
Meanwhile, sections of the Muslim community in Nellore have been demanding that the Mayor’s post be given to a Muslim candidate, pointing to the sizeable Muslim population in the Nellore City and Rural constituencies.
The issue is also significant for Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. The Anam family has had a long association with Nellore municipal politics, with its influence extending over civic affairs for several decades.
Another aspirant is Dr Z Shivaprasad, a BC leader who had earlier contested for the Mayor’s post.
He reportedly spent substantial personal resources while contesting during a difficult political period and is considered a staunch TDP loyalist and a strong supporter of party general secretary Nara Lokesh.
