Family pressure on seniors

March 12: Senior politicians are now facing a tough time from their families.
The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and other top leaders are facing increasing demands from their kin for party tickets.
Even the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and the Praja Rajyam chief, Chiranjeevi, are also under tremendous pressure with the wishlist of family members. Apart from seeking tickets for themselves, the close relatives are coming out with big lists recommending their own supporters. Sons, brothers, daughters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and others are threatening to contest even as independents if they are denied tickets.
The Chief Minister’s brother-in-law and Kadapa mayor, Mr Ravindranath Reddy, has already threatened to contest as an independent from Kadapa if he is not given a Congress ticket.
The Nandamuri family scions Mr Balakrishna, Mr Harikrishna and Jr NTR are also putting pressure on Mr Chandrababu Naidu, who is already facing trouble in allocating seats to alliance partners of the Mahakutami.
Jr NTR is seeking a ticket for film producer Vamsi from Gannavaram. He reportedly began the tour from Ichhapuram only after getting an assurance from his uncle Mr Chandrababu Naidu.
The minister for housing, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana’s family is seeking two Assembly seats and the Vizianagaram Lok Sabha seat. The Congress high command fears that it would send wrong signals if three tickets are given to a particular family.
The Visakhapatnam MP, Mr Nedurumalli Janardan Reddy, his wife and minister Mr N. Rajaylakshmi and son Ravi are in the race for tickets.
The PCC president, Mr D. Srinivas’ son and Nizamabad mayor Mr Sanjay are also keen to contest either for Assembly or Lok Sabha. The transport minister, Mr Kanna Laxminarayana’s son Mr Nagaraju has sought a ticket in Guntur district.