Whether people will consider it as a great comeback is yet to be seen, but the latest news is that Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, is planning to make a return to active politics. After the 2014 elections and the splitting of the state, he had descended into oblivion.
But the news is that Kiran Kumar will make a comeback and join the Congress, unlike earlier last year, when there were speculations that he might join either the BJP or Jana Sena. But it would be difficult for him to join the BJP since it was on the other side of the political spectrum. Meanwhile, Jana Sena chief Power Star Pawan Kalyan had already announced that he did not want politicians from other parties, especially the Congress. His experience with Praja Rajyam and his brother Super Star K. Chiranjeevi might still be haunting him.
But, apparently, the Congress party has promised him a good post. Currently, the Congress in Andhra Pradesh is bereft of any known leader except for the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president N. Raghuveera Reddy. While Kiran Kumar might not be considered as a strong leader, he was, after all, the last chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh and was also loud in condemning the bifurcation of the state. The decision has to be made by Kiran Kumar. Some say that Kiran Kumar might return to the party in sheer gratitude for the high command making him the chief minister. He was the dark horse and stunned the state when the announcement was made.
Kiran Kumar had actually gone against the party high command when he was the chief minister and opposed the division. Following the bifurcation, he floated the Jai Samaikhyandhra Party, just before the 2014 general elections. Not surprisingly, the party could not even retain the deposits. Hosting the party might have been in good intention, but it was little too late. After that debacle, Kiran Kumar went off the radar and would appear only for private functions.
While Kiran Kumar Reddy's re-entry into active politics might not be such a jolt, news that his brother Kishore Kumar Reddy might join the TDP is a bit of a shock. Kishore Kumar Reddy contested for AP assembly from Peeleru constituency on Jai Samaikyandhra Party ticket and lost the election in 2014. It would seem that the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also has given the nod to his joining the party and has apparently given a nod to give Kishore Kumar Reddy the Rajampet MP ticket.
Not surprisingly, Kiran Kumar Reddy is not happy with his brother joining the TDP. Just who will have a better impact on Andhra politics can only be felt after the 2019 elections.
