Congress leader and former Minister Pasupuleti Balaraju is reportedy mulling over his political options with an eye on winning the next election.
His name cropped up recently when YSRCP MLA Giddi Eswari who joined the TDP said the party sounding him and other leaders as one of the reasons for her quitting the YSRC.
Sources close to Mr. Balaraju say leaders from the ruling TDP and the YSRCP are in touch with him. In fact, TDP leaders sent feelers to him even before the 2014 elections, it was learnt.
Long innings
Mr. Balaraju, Tribal Welfare and Remote and Interior Area Development Minister in the Rajasekhara Reddy, Rosaiah and Kiran Kumar Reddy governments, is reportedly keen on contesting from the Paderu Assembly or the Araku Parliamentary constituencies.
Beginning his political career in 1987 as mandal president, he has been with the Congress since then and was elected to the Assembly first in 1989-94. He lost in 2014 from the Paderu Assembly constituency from where Ms. Eswari won. Mr. Balaraju is firm on contesting and winning the election next time, it is reliably learnt.
When contacted, Mr. Balaraju said, “The Congress is a national party and I am comfortable here. If there is any development I will share with you.”
