Yarlagadda reiterates his commitment to contesting from Gannavaram

VIJAYAWADA: YSRCP leader Yarlagadda Venkata Rao has reiterated his commitment to contesting for the Gannavaram Assembly constituency in the 2024 elections.

Venkata Rao on Sunday convened a meeting with his supporters and followers in Gannavaram who stood behind him during the 2014 and 2019 general elections. He discussed his future course of action with them. The meeting assumed significance as there were speculations that Venkata Rao might join the TDP during the ‘Yuva Galam’ padayatra of Nara Lokesh in Krishna District on August 19, 2023.

Venkata Rao said that, “For the last two years, I have been trying to meet the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. But my attempts went in vain and I couldn't get a chance to meet him. There is no response to my letters to him and, regardless of the consequences, I will appeal to the Chief Minister to allow me to contest for the Gannavaram Assembly constituency in the coming elections.”

The YSRCP leader expressed his concern that a section of people had prevented many of his followers and supporters from participating in the meeting. “Though the YSRCP is in power, the cases filed against my followers are still existing. Following an assurance from YS Jagan on my political career and developing the party from grassroots level, I came to Gannavaram from the United States of America (USA) in 2019, despite my charitable trust functioning in Penamaluru,” Venkata Rao said.

On his relationship with Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi, Venkata Rao said that, “Despite the YSRCP losing the Gannavaram segment in 2019, I thought of addressing the problems of the people in the constituency as the party formed the Government. YS Jagan has asked me to work unitedly with Vallabhaneni Vamsi after he supported the YSRCP Government. I told the Chief Minister that I don't have any disputes with Vallabhaneni Vamsi but am not interested in working with him,” he said.

Venkata Rao said that following the directions of the Chief Minister, he had served as the Chairman of Krishna District Cooperative Central Bank (KDCCB) for two years. “After the completion of his tenure, several senior leaders in the YSRCP asked me to work with Vallabhaneni Vamsi, instead he will be given an opportunity as an MLC and in charge of Vijayawada Parliamentary Constituency. I vehemently opposed their proposals and maintained that I don’t want any posts except contesting as MLA from the Gannavaram,” the YSRCP leader said.

Venkata Rao said that for the last two years he had faced several humiliations from family members for being in the YSRCP. But the support from his supporters and followers in Gannavaram was preventing him from quitting politics. “I am aware of every nook and corner in Gannavaram. Once again, I will try to meet YS Jagan to explain to him about the political situation in the constituency and seek to announce his candidature from Gannavaram for the 2024 elections. If not, my supporters and followers will decide my future course of action,” Venkata Rao said.