Known for producing towering political leaders, Guntur district is set to find a prominent place in the new Cabinet of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Giant killer
Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who emerged as the giant killer by defeating Nara Lokesh, former IT Minister and son of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, in Mangalagiri is set to find a place in the Cabinet.
RK, as he is called by his supporters, had waged a battle against the TDP government over the land pooling scheme and filed a slew of cases against the previous regime in the National Green Tribunal. He also endeared himself to the locals by launching ‘Rajanna canteens’, providing subsidised food, besides selling vegetables.
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced during electioneering that RK would be given a Cabinet berth after formation of the new government.
Another leader is Marri Rajasekhar, former MLA from Chilakaluripet. He was also promised a berth after the formation of the new government.
Mr. Rajasekhar made way to Vidadala Rajani, who trounced TDP senior leader Prathipati Pulla Rao in the elections.
Mr. Rajasekhar is the son-in-law of former Congress MLA Somepalli Sambaiah. He won twice from Chilakaluripet and was district unit president for 10 years.
Other probables
Among the other hopefuls are Ambati Rambabu, who defeated former Speaker Kodela Siva Prasad Rao at Sattenapalli; Mekathoti Sucharita from Prathipadu, who won three elections since making her debut in 2009; Meruga Nagarjuna from Vemuru, who defeated former Social Welfare Minister Nakka Ananda Babu.
The Chief Minister is likely to go with a Reddy-Kamma combination for the first time when the new Ministers are expected to be sworn in on June 8.