Gorantla’s ‘double act’ irks BJP activists

Saffron cadre upset after the TDP leader files papers for Rajahmundry city and rural segments

TDP nominee Maganti Murali Mohan sharing a lighter moment with JSP vice-president and MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar at Rajahmundry Sub-Collector's office on Saturday. Photo: S. Rambabu

Rajahmundry city and rural constituencies became a bone of contention between the Telugu Desam and the BJP after senior TDP leader Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary filed nominations for both the seats, though his party had allotted Rajahmundry city seat to the BJP in the Friday night patch-up.

While Mr. Chowdary maintained officially that he was in the fray for both the seats claiming that the party had given him ‘B’ forms for both the seats, party sources said Mr. Chowdary would withdraw from the city segment. The confusion over the seats left the BJP leaders fuming.

BJP candidate Akula Satyanarayana filed his nomination for Rajahmundry City constituency. He declared Rs.19.77 crore as immovable and Rs. 4.22 crore as movable assets in his affidavit filed with the RDO.

Mr. Chowdary, when contacted, maintained that he tried his best to convince the BJP leadership to leave the Rajahmundry City. Rebutting the TDP leader’s statement, the BJP leaders asked, “How can his party give two ‘B’ forms to him ( Mr. Gorantla) when the seat is left to us?”

Assets declaration

Meanwhile, the TDP candidate and cine actor Maganti Murali Mohan filed his nominations and showed Rs. 8.41 crore as movable and Rs.6.53 as immovable assets in his affidavit. He also showed Rs.2.33 crore as immovable and Rs.80 lakh as movable assets owned by his wife.

After filing nominations Mr. Murali Mohan said that he had appealed to Mr. Butchaiah Chowdary to reconsider his decision on filing ‘B’ form for the city segments as the seat was allotted to the BJP as per the alliance patch-up.

On the other hand, the TDP made two changes in its original list of candidates and the YSR Congress made one change.

In its last list, the YSR Congress changed the name of V. Venugopal, former executive engineer of Dowleswaram from P. Gannavaram constituency and brought in a new face, Kondeti Chittibabu. In Anaparty, the TDP officially announced the candidature of Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy and in Razole the party announced the name of former Minister Gollapalli Suryarao, whose name first figured as Amalapuram MP candidate.