Sharmila struggling in cousin vs cousin joust

KADAPA is witnessing a legacy joust between two cousins of a politically influential family one of whom is a first-timer and a triangular contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

- NAGARAJA RAO

Incumbent YS Avinash Reddy belongs to the YS Rajashekara Reddy family tree.

He is the cousin of YSR's son and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who floated his own YSR Congress. The Congress pitted Jagan's sister Y S Sharmila Reddy against Avinash.

Ever since 1989, when Rajasekhara Reddy won the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, the contest here has only been about the YS family's victory margin.

This is the first time two members of the YS family are vying for the top honours.

One of the backward districts in the Rayalaseema region, Kadapa witnessed a spurt in development after Rajasekhara Reddy became CM as he ensured a steady flow of funds for the family pocket borough.

The only time the TDP won the seat was in 1984 when D Narayana Reddy wrested it at the height of the NT Ramarao wave. Like Sha la, TDP's candic Chadipiralla B pesh Subbaram Reddy, too, is a first-timer.