Dadi leaves Konatalas red-faced

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 3, 2013: Dadi Veerabhadra Rao’s decision to join YSRC has left Anakapalle party cadre rallying behind its key leader Konatala Ramakrishna red faced. Konatala Ramakrishna’s elder brother Konatala Laksminarayana held a meeting with YSRC activists on Friday morning and openly expressed his dissent over Dadi’s move. Dadi and Kontala families are from the same ‘gavara’ community, which is very strong. They  continue their decades old rivalry in Ankapalle.

While the Dadi family was associated with TD since its inception Konatalas’ were with Congress. After the inception of YSRC, Konatalas shifted loyalties and Ramakrishna was playing a crucial role at Hyderabad party office in drafting party policies and strategies.

“I don’t understand in what way Dadi Veerabhadra Rao’s entry would strengthen the party in this region. He lost deposit in 2009 elections. We don’t want him in YSRC. He is a mischievous man and tries to create problem wherever he goes. How can the party central leadership too take him into our fold a person who until yesterday criticised our leader YS Rajasekhar Reddy,” said Konatakla Lakshminarayana, who is known as Kontala Pedababu in Anakapalle.

He went a step ahead and said YSRC cadre in the town will not allow him join the party. The known follower of Kontala Ramakrishna, former Pendurthy  MLA, Gandi Babji too joined the chorus and echoed the same opinions. “He dumped the party and its leader which honoured him with many posts and dignity since 30 years for denying just a re nomination. How can we trust such leaders? I don’t know central leadership has decided to take him into the party,” said ex MLA, Gandi Babji.

Meanwhile, members of both TD rural and urban coordination committees met at the party office and condemned Dadi’s move. TD state vice president, Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy said “Since party’s inception, Dadi Veerabhadra Rao was MLA for 20 years and also minister twice earlier. Since 6 years he has been MLC and leader of opposition party in legislative council of cabinet minister rank. Party had done a lot to him and it’s unfortunate to hear from him that party had insulted him.”

Party activists in large numbers gathered at the office and burnt Rao in effigy while raising slogans against him.