In a major setback to senior YCP leader and former MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, after he was arrested in election-related violent incidents, his strong hold over Macherla Municipality has vanished. In a big shock to him, TDP has tightened its grip on Macherla Municipality.
14 councilors have already joined the TDP. On Independence Day, Municipal Chairman Macherla Chinna Esobu and Vice Chairman Narasimha Rao met TDP MLA Julakanti Brahma Reddy expressing their intention to join TDP. With this, on the Independence Day, TDP was able to destabilize YCP in both Ongole Municipal Corporation and Macherla Municipality.
In the last elections held in 2022 the YCP won all 31 wards in the Municipality capturing all the posts. But now, TDP has secured hold over 16 wards reaching a simple majority in the municipality. Thus, in recent times for the first time TDP succeeded in getting hold here in the YCP fortress.
Macharla’s former MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who has emerged as unchallenged leader in Macherla since for the last 15 years, for the first time started running out from the day of the polling in May, 2024. As he was mentioned as the main accused in the breaking of the EVM in Palvaigate booth and another case of attempt to murder was booked, the Election Commission took it very seriously.
This made him go underground and later he was arrested with the change of government in the state. When he had approached the AP High Court, it gave a temporary interim order for a few days, but he was not allowed to enter Macherla even on counting day. He is currently in Nellore Jail. Soon after that, the municipal councilors of Macherla joined the TDP.
On the other hand, last week in Prakasam District Ongole Municipal Corporation went to the TDP account. With the joining of two more YCP Corporators into the party, TDP MLA Damacharla Janardhan and MP Magunta Srinivasula Reddy raised yellow scrap on the Ongole Municipal Corporation on Independence day.
While 19 corporators have already joined the TDP, the latest additions include Chintapalli Gopi and Kumaleti Vijayalakshmi’s husband, Kumaleti Srinivasa Rao. With these additions, the number of those who came from YSRCP has increased to 21. TDP corporators are six and Jana Sena has one.
With this, the number of TDP alliance corporators has become 28. With three ex-officio members, including 1 MP and 2 MLAs, the strength of TDP has now increased to 31.
