The chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy had an upper hand in selection of candidates to by-polls. With Sonia Gandhi hinting long back to keep aside the communities and give prominence to the strong contestants, there were news in the air that chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy would be cornered. Nevertheless, the candidates proposed by Kiran Kumar Reddy were finalized in most of the constituencies.

In fact, there were even speculations that candidates proposed by Kiran Kumar in Railway Koduru, Rayachoti and Rajampeta would not be entertained.  However, Kiran was successful in making sure that the proposed names for these constituencies were finalized.

Notably, three ministers from the same district, Ahmedulla, D L Ravindra Reddy, C Ramachandraiah and MP Sai Pratap requested Azad to select three two candidates for balija community and one for mala community. Since they said this to Azad, who is in charge of AP affairs, the minister were of the opinion that CM’s list would be neglected.

Further, chief minister was also successful in finalizing his favourites—Rashid for Anantapur, Vijayarami Reddy in Udayagiri, Sumana in Payakaraopeta and Sudhakar Babu in Prattipadu.

The Congress leaders are of the opinion that PCC chief Bothsa Satyanarayana was unable to influence the high command in selection of candidates as his favourites were not selected to contest in three constituencies in Kadapa district.

Will this create a rift between Bothsa and Kiran Kumar Reddy or will increase the difference between the duo? One has to wait for another couple of months to know the same. (Phani)