Keen on retaining power beyond 2009, Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy is expected to cut Congress tickets to Reddys in the next elections. The impact of Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi is already showing on the ruling Congress where a substantial section of leaders from BCs are clamoring for a bigger share.
According to insiders, Dr YSR is gearing up for a surgical intervention to remove the impression that the Congress is the natural choice of Reddys in the State. Presently there are 65 Reddy MLAs in the State Assembly. They comprise about one third of the Congress legislature party (CLP), which has a size of 185.
Compared to the Congress, Opposition TDP has less percentage of Reddy MLAs. Of the 46 members won on its ticket, only eight belonged to this farming community. Compared to the Congress, Reddy's presence in other parties like the CPI, the CPI(M), the TRS, the BJP and the MIM is minimal.
But, these 2009 elections are going to be entirely different. While Chiranjeevi has emerged as the clear choice of BCs and other downtrodden castes including numerically strong Kapus, the TDP has decided to consolidate its position among BCs, by allocating at least 100 tickets to them.
After the humiliating defeat in May 29 by-elections, TRS president KCR too has announced that he would give at least 50 seats to BCs in the next elections. Another pro-Telangana party, NTPP , too is expected to allocate a lion's share to BCs, as its chief Devender Goud is a mascot of subaltern castes.
"If we have given around 90 tickets to Reddys last time, it may not be more than 60 seats this time. Even if we come to power, Reddys dominance in CLP would be minimised," said a close aide of Dr YSR. Now, Reddys rule the roost in any CLP meeting as others rarely get a chance to speak.
"YSR has already begun hunt for nonReddy candidates and mostly BCs in most constituencies. He is looking for those who are young and also who can win," said the aide. If this happens, the Congress would go for a total revamp of its character in the State, he pointed out.
In such case, even if he scrapes through the next elections, the share of Reddys would be reduced in the Cabinet also. This would help pave way for a nonReddy Chief Minister, even if the Congress comes back to power. Stretching this logic further, YSR may be the last Reddy Congress chief minister in AP .
