YSRCP leaders of Rajupalem Mandal of Guntur district have raised the banner of revolt against their own party MLA Ambati Rambabu. The reason being that the leaders have been ‘deprived’ of due share in the illegal mining of limestone deposits in Kotanemalapuri and Kondamodu villages. Ambati and his men are allegedly refusing to share the booty with their own local party men. Regardless of the party in power, illegal mining of limestone has been the order of the day making wads of money for influential leaders in the region.
Earlier, former TDP MLA Yerapatineni Srinivas faced similar allegations. The YSRCP government has ordered for a CBI probe into the alleged illegal limestone mining activity carried out by him during the TDP regime. Now, the YSRCP leaders are also reportedly walking the same track. However, the twist this time is that the sitting MLA is allegedly running the show with his front-men.
Reportedly, Ambati has been ‘gifted’ these mines since he was not accommodated in the cabinet during the first phase. The Sattennapalli MLA is close to Jagan and other ministers who call the shots in the Government.
Aggrieved over the ‘shabby treatment’ meted out to them, the local leaders had earlier lodged their grievance against Ambati to the Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Mining Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and the District Collector, Guntur. The Mining department officials came for an inspection and washed away their hands giving a clean chit for Ambati irking the YSRCP leaders. Feeling insulted, they have reportedly contemplated giving a logical end to their grievance. This time, choosing a different route, they moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the high court alleging illegal mining of limestone.
The State High Court had reportedly asked the counsel appearing in the issue, as to “how it can consider a case filed by the YSRCP men against their MLA be entertained as a PIL?”
However, at the same time, the court had also directed the government to submit a report on the matter. Last heard, the YSRCP government which has often come under fire from the Supreme Court and High Court has developed cold feet. The peacemakers deputed by the party leadership are making all-out efforts to cajole the angry local party leaders and asking them to go soft on the issue. They were reportedly summoned for talks to Guntur on Thursday night.
If the party emissaries could bargain a deal, then it is likely that local leaders might withdraw their petition. While these developments unfolded, the TDP preferred to be silent as its own former MLA is facing a CBI probe for similar allegations.
