In a move that has caught the political observers by surprise, the Jana Sena Party has fielded several candidates in key segments, just a day before the beginning of nomination process.
Yerram Venkateswara Reddy, two-time Congress MLA. is a surprise choice in Sattenapalli. Mr. Reddy, who has been keeping a low profile since 2014, finds himself locking horns with Ambati Rambabu of YSRCP and Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao of TDP.
Mr. Reddy has never been seen actively in the public life after the general elections in 2014. Mr. Reddy had contested for Congress, but lost by a heavy margin. He is expected to cut into a traditional YSRCP vote.
The YSRCP, has however, came out strongly saying that this has yet again proved that the Jana Sena Party is hand in glove with the TDP and the last minute candidature of Mr. Reddy is just an example.
In Mangalagiri, Muppala Nageswara Rao is contesting for CPI party, which is in alliance with the JSP. Mr. Nageswara Rao, though never won any election, has a support base in the segment, once a bastion of the Left parties. He is also expected to split rivals’ vote.
In Guntur, Bonaboyina Srinivasa Rao, director of GDCCB and a senior TDP leader, was given the B-form to contest from Guntur Lok Sabha constituency by the JSP. Mr. Srinivasa Rao, who was expecting the ticket from TDP in Guntur West Assembly segment, joined the Jana Sena Party and got the nod to contest the elections.
Strong candidates
The JSP, has however, fielded some formidable candidates in key segments, like former speaker Nadendla Manohar in Tenali, former Minister Ravela Kishore Babu (Prathipadu) and Thota Chandrasekhar in Guntur West. While Mr. Manohar won two successive terms from Tenali, Mr. Chandrasekhar, a former IAS officer, has never won though he contested twice in 2009 and 2014.
