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The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh landed in a tricky situation on Thursday after the candidate it chose to field for the Kadapa Lok Sabha by-election refused to participate in the polls.
After a desperate search for an ideal candidate, the Congress decided to field Kandula Rajamohan Reddy against YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in Kadapa, after the former formally joined the party on Thursday afternoon along with his brother Kandula Sivananda Reddy.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and AP Congress Committee president D Srinivas had chosen Rajamohan as the party nominee from Kadapa and even forwarded his name to the high command for approval.
The Congress initially wanted to officially announce Rajamohan's candidature but has now put off the decision.
Rajamohan reportedly refused to contest against Jagan unless his brother Sivananda was made a member of the AP Legislative Council. This put the Congress in a fix as there is opposition from within the party against conceding to Rajamohan's demand.
"How can a person, who switched sides from the Telugu Desam Party, be straightaway made a Member of the Legislative Council," questioned a senior Congress legislator from Kadapa district.
Congress cadres in Kadapa have reportedly opposed Rajamohan's candidature and made their opposition known to state party leaders.
However, the chief minister is said to be firm on fielding Rajamohan as he believes that the latter alone can give a tough fight to Jagan in the current situation.
Kiran is reportedly trying to convince party leaders from Kadapa to accept his choice.
State Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy, who himself refused to fight Jagan in Kadapa, and senior Member of Legislative Assembly Veerasiva Reddy went to Rajamohan Reddy's residence in a bid to prevail upon him to re-consider his decision.
Congress sources say the deadlock is expected to be broken by Friday and Rajamohan's candidature will be formally announced soon.