TDP’s `fire brand’ MLC Payyavula Keshav from Anantapur district is nowadays seen impatient for keeping out of the state cabinet. Sensing that as long as Paritala Sunitha from his district remains in the cabinet, it would be difficult for him to get a berth, he has started vicious campaign against her. Now million dollar questions haunting TDP leaders is whether Keshav can succeeds in his efforts ?
Accusing her and her son Ravi as corrupt and branding her as `inefficient’ to deal with officials, he has been making severe attempts to convince Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on the need to replace her with him in the cabinet, so that to face 2019 polls with a confidence.
However, as he may not match her in mass popularity in the district, it is yet to be seen how Chief Minister responds to his attempts. As he himself is not having any group in the district, he is making attempts to make leaders from all non-Kamma communities, like Reddys and BCs to rally against her within the party.
He was two-time MLA, when TDP was in the opposition. As opposition leader he remained one among few party legislators, who are known as `fire brigade’ of Chandrababu Naidu. They were always seen making severe accusations and allegations against the then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and later against YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
However, his soft attitude towards controversial `mining don’ Gali Janardhana Reddy makes him questionable in TDP circles. Due to suspicion on his compromise attitude towards Gali brothers, when the AP Assembly sent a legislature committee to inspect `mining irregularities’ to Anantpur district, Chandrababu Naidu had deputed N Janardhan Reddy from Mahabubnagar, instead of him.
Being widow of former minister Paritala Ravindra, Sunitha is having supporters and those who sympathises with her all over the state. Moreover, unlike Ravindra, Chandrababu Naidu need not fear suspecting she may grown as a counter force to him. TDP insiders too admitting that Chief Minister feels more `comfortable’ with passive leaders while in power, more than aggressive options.
