The YSR Congress' Machilipatnam Assembly constituency candidate, Perni Venkatramaiah alias Nani, created a flutter by refusing to contest elections as he has no more money to spend nor properties to mortgage.
He has written a letter to party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, expressing his inability to contest the elections. “I have borrowed Rs 1.30 crore and spent it all in the recent civic polls, besides mortgaging my house for Rs 70 lakh,” he wrote.
After shooting off the letter, which was leaked to the press, the candidate disappeared for two days. His supporters sat on dharna in front of his home, demanding that he change his mind and contest.
However, Nani’s close aides say he was unhappy with the party for not only admitting two of his opponents from the same district but also giving them plum seats. Former minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, who joined the YSRC on Saturday, was given ticket from the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seat, and Buragadda Vedavyas was given the Pedana Assembly seat.
Parthasarathy visited Nani’s house and met his wife Jayasudha in an effort to offer financial support for Nani’s campaign.
Nani finally surfaced on Monday evening and met his anxious cadre. He will file nomination papers on April 19, much to the relief of his followers.
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