Chief Minister and TDP national president Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday reportedly finalised candidates for five Assembly segments in the Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency, including former CM N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s brother Kishore Kumar Reddy, during a review with party leaders.
Mr. Kishore Kumar Reddy, who joined the TDP in November 2017, had been chosen to contest from Pileru, where he unsuccessfully fought on behalf of the Jai Samaikyandhra Party formed by Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy, against YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)’s Chintala Ramachandra Reddy in 2014.
Mr. Naidu picked up former Congress MLC B. Chengalrayudu for Rajampet and Ramesh Kumar Reddy for Rayachoti, N. Anusha Reddy for Punganur and Chittoor MP N. Siva Prasad’s son-in-law P. Narasimha Prasad for Railway Kodur.
The decision on the Thamballapalle and the Madanapalle constituencies was not yet to be taken.
Meanwhile, MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy held discussions with the Chief Minister at his residence for re-nomination from Kurnool from where T.G. Bharat, son of MP T.G. Venkatesh, was aspiring to contest.
Mr. Mohan Reddy insisted that he should be given another opportunity or Minister Nara Lokesh, MLC, be fielded from Kurnool as Mr. Venkatesh threw in his weight behind his son who had been actively involved in the party programmes.
Former Minister and senior leader Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy met Mr. Naidu for the ticket for the Srikalahasti Assembly constituency to his son Sudheer.
Candidates change on both sides
Within a month’s time, the probable candidates for the prestigious Rajampet constituency almost changed on both the sides.
Though TDP legislator and government whip Meda Mallikarjuna Reddy got due importance in the party and the government programmes, his shifting loyalty to the YSR Congress at the end of his tenure did not go well with the party high command. Meda, who joined the YSRC last month in the presence of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is reportedly assured of the Rajampet assembly ticket, given his financial wherewithal.
Nevertheless, it was equally shocking to ex-MLA and YSRC ticket aspirant Akepati Amarnatha Reddy, a close confidant of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy and a staunch follower of the YSR Congress ever since its inception. Though the ticket issue has not reached the final stage, he is thoroughly shattered at the entry of Meda and is now perplexed over his future course. Party workers have already held a meeting in the town, both to protest against the admission of Meda and also to express their avowed support to Mr. Amarnatha Reddy.
With Mr. Naidu finalising Mr. Chengalrayudu for Rajampet and ending the stalemate, party workers heaved a sigh of relief. Mr. Chengalrayudu, though belonging to the adjoining Kodur, wields enough clout in Rajampet and as an MLC, has extended aid to a number of beneficiaries from the CM Relief Fund.
The TDP has rushed a team of senior leaders and MLA aspirants from across the State to the Gulf countries to strike a chord with the Telugus settled there. As Rajampet is a major hub that regularly sends workers to Kuwait, Mr. Chengalrayudu, who is part of the team, hopes to establish a connect with his ‘abroad constituents’.
(With inputs from our Tirupati Special Correspondent)
