Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy admitting a YSRCP leader into the TDP in Sarvepalli constituency of SPSR Nellore district recently.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

The YSR Congress Party’s cadre of Sarvepalli constituency appear to be clueless over their future course of action in view of the prolonged absence of their former MLA Kakani Govardhan Reddy.

As Mr. Govardhan Reddy is also the president of the YSRCP’s undivided Sri Potti Sri Ramulu (SPSR) Nellore district unit, the ramifications of his absence are far-reaching and the echoes are heard across the 10 constituencies.

Mr. Reddy was named as an accused in the illegal quartz mining case registered in Podalakur police station based on a complaint filed by Deputy Director of Mining in the first week of April.

The former MLA not only appealed for quashing of the case, but also moved the High Court seeking grant of interim stay on the proceedings, but to no avail. Having applied for anticipatory bail, he announced to be staying in Hyderabad for personal reasons.

The district police recently launched searches at his two residential addresses in Nellore and one in Hyderabad. As he could not be traced in the above locations, the police reportedly pasted a copy of the notice on his gate and left.

Former Minister P. Anil Kumar Yadav took exception to the ‘harassment’ and vowed to stand by his party leader.

Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has ridiculed his prolonged absence from public sphere and termed the former MLA as ‘absconding’.

Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy from the TDP accused his bete noire of brazenly resorting to illegal mining of valuable quartz during the previous stint.

“While I stayed in Nellore and fought the numerous cases illegally slapped against me during the previous government, he (Govardhan Reddy) does not have the courage to stay on the ground and fight back”, he told The Hindu.

It was in this backdrop that several party leaders, including sarpanches, mandal presidents and even close camp followers of Mr. Govardhan Reddy, joined the TDP in Mr. Chandramohan Reddy’s presence on Saturday.

As if rubbing salt on the wound, the TDP’s social media wing has released funny videos targeting Mr. Govardhan Reddy of being ‘on the run’ and still ‘putting a brave face’.