Cong in Jagan bastion to prevent rigging

HYDERABAD: The state Congress is working overtime to strengthen its network in the areas which are considered strongholds of YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency to prevent rigging in the byelection.
After sending more than a dozen ministers as in-charges of assembly segments in the Lok Sabha constituency, the party is now planning to lure into its fold the local leaders who were till recently either with Jagan or with other political parties.
The party is trying to woo these leaders in Jamamalamadugu, Badvel and Kadapa which played a predominant role in the victory of YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the 2009 elections.
The strategy is to make its presence felt where the party is totally absent, so that the other parties, especially YSR Congress, dare not indulge in poll malpractices, said party spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy.
After Jaganmohan Reddy revolted against the Congress, the party cadre in these areas switched their loyalty to him. But through its concerted efforts the Congress has succeeded in garnering the support of several leaders to work for its candidate in the elections. "This is certainly going to improve Congress situation greatly," said Congress candidate DL Ravindra Reddy.
Talking to TOI, Reddy on Thursday said, he had successfully launched the campaign in the Jammalamadugu segment which is a stronghold of YS Jaganmohan Reddy and is represented by his staunch follower C Adinarayana Reddy. He said this was the segment where the Congress had no presence. "But now we have inaugurated the party office and admitted several local leaders from other parties including YSR Congress to carry on the campaign." He was accompanied by former MLA N Vardarajulu Reddy.
"About 15,000 votes were rigged in this segment in 2009 but this time we will not allow that to happen," said P Brahmananda Reddy, a Lok Satta leader who was among those who joined the Congress on Thursday. Transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana is the party in-charge in Jammalamadugu.