The demand for fielding a Backward Class (BC) candidate for the post of Mayor is brewing in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). And, leaders say the party prefer to field a Kamma leader for the post of Zilla Parishad Chairperson. So, due recognition should be given to corporators from BC community, according to them.
Vijayawada (Central) MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao says as many as 17 corporators were elected from the Central constituency, and that one of them should be made the candidate.
Trimurthi Raju, Muppa Venkateswara Rao and Gogula Ramana enjoy the support of the Central MLA. Of the three, the MLA’s choice will be Mr. Raju and Mr. Ramana, if the party decides to go for a BC candidate, sources say.
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Vijayawada (East) MLA Gadde Rammohan Rao favours Chennupati Gandhi, while Irrigation Minister and Mylavaram MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao wants Jasti Sambasiva Rao to be the candidate.
Meanwhile, Devineni Aparna, wife of Devineni Baji Prasad, sources say, has sought the blessings of Rajya Sabha member Sujana Chowdary, who is said to be the trusted lieutenant of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
According to information, the party is unlikely to select Ms. Aparna mainly for two reasons - the post of Mayor was reserved for women for more than a decade, and she hails from the Kamma community.
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Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) is said to be maintaining a distance from the selection of candidate. It is learnt that the denial of ticket to K. Pattabhi Ram during the municipal elections is the reason behind his decision, source say.
Another two senior corporators - Koneru Sridhar and Muppa Venkateswara Rao - have been testing their fortunes on their own. It is also learnt that the duo has already met Mr. Naidu.
The frontrunners from the BCs are Gogula Ramana and Veeranki Dange Kumar. While Mr. Ramana belongs to the Yadava community, Mr. Dange Kumar is from the Gowda caste.
Interestingly, none of the MLAs or MP have zeroed in on a Kapu leader.