ONGOLE: The uncertainty surrounding former minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy's potential departure from the YSRC remains unresolved, even as efforts to keep him in the party continue. The political dynamics of the Ongole Municipal Corporation (OMC) are heavily influenced by this issue.
Despite two rounds of discussions failing to yield a resolution, YSRC leaders Sathish Kumar Reddy of Kadapa and Vidadala Rajini of Guntur reportedly met with Balineni at his Hyderabad residence on Friday. They delivered a message from the YSRC leadership urging him to stay with the party.
An OMC corporator currently in Hyderabad informed TNIE, “We learned that the YSRC leaders conveyed the party high command’s message and asked Balineni to remain with the party. Our leader indicated he would announce his decision in the coming days. We will respect and follow his choice.”
In the meantime, the TDP-led alliance has taken control of the OMC, with defected Mayor Gangada Sujatha presiding over a council meeting attended by 22 members. YSRC members were absent from this session. Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Ongole MLA Damacharla Janardhan Rao, and Santhanuthalapadu MLA BN Vijay Kumar attended the meeting as ex-officio members, fully supporting the council’s decisions regarding the development of Ongole city.