Kiran Makes a Dent in Chandrababu Bastion

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy succceeded in making a visible dent in Chandrababu Naidu's bastion in Chittoor district. He lured Chandrababu loyalist and former Tirupathi municipal chairman Kandati Shankar Reddy into the Congress fold.

Kandati Shankar Reddy, considered to be a staunch follower of Chandrababu Naidu, was an active member of TDP for the past 25 years. He commands a good following in Chittoor district. Even Naidu got impressed by his popularity and gave him party ticket for 2009 elections. Later, somehow gap widened between Shankar Reddy and Babu. Kiran took advantage of the situation and used Adikeshavulu Naidu to lure Shankar Reddy in to the Congress Party.

Amidst huge fanfare, Shankar Reddy formally joined Congress at Tirupathi on Wednesday in presence of the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. Speaking on the occasion, CM said "People are joining the Congress party impressed by the welfare schemes the party is implementing. Though some mentally deranged people are saying that the June 12 byelections will be withheld, but that's not true. The bypolls will take place as scheduled and Congress will win majority of the seats."