The Kurnool assembly seat has become the centrestage for a heated contest between sitting MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy and T.G. Bharath, son of Rajya Sabha MP T.G. Venkatesh, both hailing from the TDP. While Mr. Mohan Reddy is keen on running for another term, Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, who is the probable TDP candidate for the Kurnool Lok Sabha seat, reportedly wants Mr. Bharath to be given the ticket.
Sources close to the party say that Mr. Mohan Reddy is lobbying hard for the ticket by signalling his strong influence over the Pattikonda assembly seat, which is being contested by Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy’s son Shyam Babu.
Mr. Mohan Reddy’s father, S.V. Subba Reddy, was elected as MLA from Pattikonda three times — 1994, 1999, and 2004 — from the TDP, thus ensuring a good support base for the S.V. family in the constituency.
Speculation is rife that Mr. Mohan Reddy is using this as leverage against K.E Shyam Babu, which in turn has reportedly led Mr. Krishnamurthy to support Mr. Mohan Reddy’s claim for re-election. On the other hand, Mr. Surya Prakash Reddy reportedly wants Mr. Bharath to get the ticket so that the supporters of the T.G. family would come to his support.