BJP eyes two of three municipalities in North Kadapa

As seat-sharing negotiations among NDA alliances move closer to a consensus ahead of the local body polls, Kadapa district is witnessing a cordial relations with alliance partners, due to the personal rapport shared by their leaders.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has a strong political presence in Jammalamadugu and Badvel assembly constituencies, is seeking the chairperson’s post for two of the three municipalities in the region.

Jammalamadugu constituency has a unique feature of two municipalities— Jammalamadugu and Yerraguntla—where BJP MLA and Government whip C. Adinarayana Reddy is said to wield considerable influence. Similarly, in the adjoining Badvel (SC) constituency, BJP candidate Panathala Suresh, who is also the party’s State SC Morcha president, contested in the past.

Mr. Adinarayana Reddy is insisting on a share of the municipal leadership position and has expressed confidence that the BJP can win hands down any of the municipalities it is allotted.

In an informal conversation with The Hindu, Mr. Adinarayana Reddy said, “The NDA alliance is bent on defeating the YSRCP. The BJP knows how to extract maximum share from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) by following the coalition dharma. At the same time, we are ready to give up our stake if it helps defeat our common opponent.”

His nephew C. Bhupesh Reddy is the TDP’s district president. The two leaders believe in resolving issues through discussion.

At a recent press conference alongside Mr. Bhupesh Reddy, Mr. Adinarayana Reddy made it clear that the close ties between the TDP – BJP – Jana Sena cadre in the region would stamp out the YSRCP candidates with ease.

Mr. Adinarayana Reddy has reportedly worked out several alternate seat-sharing plans to accommodate the reservation categories applicable to wards in the urban local bodies.