Vizag’s debutant MLAs uncertain about their political future

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 22, 2013: The debutant MLAs, irrespective of political parties, in Vizag district are at crossroads and worried lot what with their future seeming uncertain.

The emergence of YSR Congress, as a strong force in the region, and the Congress led UPA’s decision to bifurcate the state have made things worse for these budding politicians.

 As many as 11, out of the total 15 MLAs of Vizag, are new entrants to politics, having contested for the first time in 2009 polls. These legislators have lost hopes on switching loyalty as ‘berths’ in the other parties are full.  

Of the, four belong to Telugu Desam and seven to the Congress and they are considering it the end of their political career, which had begun five years back though.

MLAs Muthamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, Chinthalapudi Venkataramaiah have switched loyalty to the Congress from PRP, after its merger with the grand old party. They contested the 2009 polls on PRP tickets.

Payakaraopeta, MLA, Golla Babu Rao had jumped the fence long back from Congress and was reelected during a by poll on the YSR Congress ticket. Rest of the Congress MLAs including, Tainala Vijay Kumar, Bolem Mutyala Papa and Malla Vijay Prasad are perturbed about their future, in view of the misrule, anti incumbency wave in the region, which has grown more strong following the Centre’s decision on Telangana.

Similar is the condition of TD MLAs, G Ramu Naidu, KSN Raju, Siveri Soma and V Ramakrishna Babu. They feel that that the ongoing Samaikyandhra stir and the ambiguous stance of their party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on state division would dent their prospects in 2014 polls, if they contest from the state party.

Political observers are pointing that most of these MLAs of both TD and  Congress have no option than stick to their respective parties and rue at their fortunes, wait for another round of assembly polls to come in 2019.

“We are literally at crossroads. We don’t know what to do and where to go. Public mood is clearly against us. There is no doubt about it and at the same time we are not sure which party has the edge. Even though there is an offer from a party am not sure whether I can win on that ticket. Some of us even don’t have any offer or invitation from other parties and their situation is most pathetic,” a ruling party’s first time MLA told this correspondent.