Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy received a big setback ahead of the Kadapa bypolls as the chief minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, managed to win back some of his loyalists back to the Congress camp.
Prime among the prodigal leaders is the Badvel MLA, Ms P.M. Kamalamma, who was allegedly upset with the functioning of local Jagan supporters. She was contacted by the chief minister and local Congress leaders who convinced her to return to the party fold.
Ms Kamalamma, who was one of the five Congress MLAs loyal to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, was put up in former MLA V. Sivaramakrishna Rao’s village under heavy security to prevent leaders from the Jagan camp approaching her.
Ms Kamalamma is expected to address the media on Wednesday in Kadapa before participating in an election campaign for Dr D.L. Ravindra Reddy. Incidentally, on Tuesday she did not participate in the election campaign of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy in the Badvel Assembly segment.
Ms Kamalamma’s return to the Congress was confirmed by the chief minister on Tuesday who also said that a few other MLAs from the Jagan camp would return to the party soon.
Sources said that Ms Kamalamma had been complaining to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy about the interference of the former MLA, Mr B.C. Govinda Reddy, in constituency affairs.
Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy had tried to pacify both leaders but the differences reached a peak during the MLC polls from local bodies held recently.
Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy took advantage of this situation and managed to win back Ms Kamalamma.
It is learnt that the chief minister has also contacted Mr Srinivasulu, MLA Railway Koduru of Kadapa district, and asked him to return to the party.