Many senior leaders who lost in general elections are trying their best to enter the legislature through the elections to the Legislative Council.
Former Assembly Speaker Pratibha Bharati of Telugu Desam Party, former Minister Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju and former MLC Gorle Haribabu Naidu are reportedly keen to enter the upper house with the blessings of TDP president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Ms. Pratibha Bharati was defeated in Rajam and Mr. Vijayarama Raju unsuccessfully contested from Patapatnam. Ms. Pratibha Bharati is a confidant of Mr. Naidu and she would have the backing of Dalit community. Mr. Vijayarama Raju who shifted loyalty during general election was reportedly assured of MLC ticket if he was defeated in Patapatnam.
Mr. Haribabu who got elected to the Upper House previously is also seriously trying for the ticket with the backing of Kapu community which has around six lakh votes. According to sources, the party may prefer him if it wants to allocate one seat to Srikakulam and please Kapu community. Sources say, he could get the support from Union Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju who represents Vizianagaram Parliament seat which spreads in both Srikakualm and Vizianagaram districts.
Meanwhile, former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao’s loyalists are insisting for MLC ticket for him as YSR Congress party did not have senior leader in the upper house. However, he may not get seat if the party decides to allocate seat to Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy who resigned to upper house after leaving the Congress party to join YSR Congress Party.
Loyalists of various leaders have already left to Hyderabad to please the respective high commands for tickets.
