Sons rise in Nizamabad politics

Nizamabad, Sept. 7: Family politics is a living reality in India and Andhra Pradesh is no exception. But the number of "son rises" in this north Telangana district in recent times has surprised even astute political observers.

And needless to say, it has disheartened many second rung leaders who have come up the hard way only to find the "sons" spoil their chances. The APCC chief and Nizamabad MLA, Mr D. Srinivas, has led the way by introducing his son, Mr D. Sanjay, into politics step by step.

After he won as municipal coprorator, Mr Sanjay was elevated as the first Mayor of the upgraded Nizamabad Municipal Corporation. Now he is slated to get a seat in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Similarly, the former MP and senior leader, Mr G. Ganga Reddy, had given up his Dichpally Assembly seat in the recent by-elections for his elder son Mr G. Anand Reddy.

Mr Ganga Reddy had joined the Telangana Rastra Samiti from the Telugu Desam during the 2004 elections to get the seat. But he did not contest the bypoll citing health reasons and passed on the seat to his son. However, Mr Anand Reddy did not win the polls and the seat went to the Congress nominee, Ms Akula Lalitha.

Similarly, the senior Congress leader and former minister, Mr S. Santosh Reddy, has decided to withdraw from the poll arena and is now lobbying to ensure that the Armoor seat goes to his son and NRI, Mr S. Srinivas Reddy. As a prelude, Mr Srinivas came to Armoor to play a crucial role in the maiden elections to the newly formed Armoor municipality.

Captain Karunakar Reddy, son in-law of Mr Santhosh Reddy, is also trying to get the ticket for the Bodhan seat. The former Zilla parishad chairman, Mr Ganta Sadanandam, has also pushed his son, Mr Viplava Kiran, into active politics. However, Mr Kiran lost in the municipal polls held in Armoor town recently. Similarly, the former MP, Mr T. Bala Goud’s daughter, Ms Shantha, also lost her election to the zilla parishad chairperson post. Another NRI, Mr Anil Eravathri, son of the late ZPTC member, Mr E.N. Rao, has also entered the fray.

The Telugu Desam is meanwhile trying to persuade Mr A. Mallikarjun Reddy, son of former MLA Annapurnnamma, to get into politics. Mr Gayazuddin, son of the senior leader and former samiti president, Mr Fayasuddin, is serving as ZPTC from Yellareddy and former MP Ramgopal Reddy’s son, Mr Srinivas Reddy, is also readying to enter politics.

Mr Erla Rajender, a senior Congress leader, said lineage does not ensure automatic success in politics. "If the heirs neglect the people, they will face a negative reaction," he said. Mayor Sanjay also said being the son of a PCC chief was a mixed blessing. "It is difficult for a small tree to grow in the shade of a big one," he quipped.