Hyderabad, February 27: In a departure from the stand taken by former MP Y S. Jaganmohan Reddy not to contest elections to Legislative Council, his supporters are gearing up to field independents against the Congress.
The appeal he issued on Friday to the electorate to vote as per their conscience is seen as a bid to allow his supporters in the Assembly and local bodies to back independent candidates
Congress MLAs from Kadapa owing allegiance to him announced on Saturday the name of former DCCB vice-chairman C. Narayana Reddy from Kadapa LAC as independent candidate.
In Nellore district, R. Pratap Kumar Reddy’s name was cleared at a meeting of Jagan loyalists on Saturday night Some more independents are likely to enter the fray in Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor, Anantapur, East and West Godavari district.
Former Minister Pilli Subash Chandra Bose and Praja Rajyam MLA Shoba Nagi Reddy dropped hints that their candidates would be in the fray as independents.
Congress MLAs inimical to the Chief Minister are likely to back an independent candidate in Chittoor district.
Interestingly, the Kadapa strong man is said to have left the decision on contesting the polls to his supporters in the district.
–Agencies