In its bid to capture the Kadapa district, which is generally seen as a strong-hold of YSR Congress, the ruling Telugu Desam party is planning to admit more leaders into the party in near future. Prominent among them is A Sai Pratap, former union minister, and noted Balija leader (Kapu) from the district. He has been inactive in Congress party. Sai Pratap, a protégé of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, has not joined any party after his defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency.
Sources said he is expected to join the TDP very soon. After becoming minister in Manmohan Singh’s UPA government, Sai Pratap remained in Congress instead of going with Jaganmohan Reddy, when the latter launched his party. And Jagan also closed gates for his father’s friend by promoting Midhun Reddy, his own friend, for Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency. As he has no hopes on the revival of Congress in Andhra Pradesh, the former MP is slowly inching towards the ruling party. He made this subtly apparent when he opposed the aggressive stand taken by Mudragada Padmanabham against the TDP government demanding BC status for Kapus
A five-time MP, Sai Pratap advised Kapus restraint and asked them to give chief minister Chandrababu Naidu enough time to resolve the issue. At the height of Mudragada’s agitation, one and half month back, he boldly announced support to TDP government. “The Kapus have been waiting for years for BC status. Let’s see what would come out of the Justice Manjunath Commission, appointed by chief minister Naidu. The chief minister is assuring that the process would be completed in 9 months. Having waited for decades, can’t we wait for another 9 months,” was his appeal to Kapus from Rajamapeta, Kadapa district.
Sai Pratap, a Balija leader of stature in Rayalaseema, was an uncrowned king of Rajamapeta Lok Sabha constituency till the state of Andhra Pradesh was divided in 2014. Sai Pratap word carries weight among the Balija’s of Rayalaseema.
Admitting Sai Pratap, would help Naidu in two ways – one he will have the backing of strong Balija leader from Kadapa district and the veteran will be a right choice for the party in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, as the party had no candidates, the TDP had to offer the seat to BJP in seat sharing, which fielded D Purandeswari. She lost to YSRC’s Midhun Reddy.
