Steering clear of opposing groups and rival claims for the TDP rural presidentship, the party leadership plumped for seasoned Pappala Chalapathi Rao.
It appears to be a bonanza for the non-controversial leader who enjoys a clean image.
Mr. Rao, MLA for four times, MP once, and a former TTD chairman, who never tasted defeat in electoral politics, has also been selected for MLC nomination from Local Bodies Constituency, according to reports from Hyderabad and leaders here.
Mr. Rao’s name did not figure in the claimants for the rural presidentship.
While Panchayat Raj Minister Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu favoured the candidature of incumbent president and former MLA G. Rama Naidu, his HRD counterpart Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s group opposed it.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu gathered the views of leaders and cadres for the rural presidentship and AP Special Representative in New Delhi K. Ramamohana Rao and Pithapuram MLA S.V.S.N. Varma for the urban presidentship.
Visakhapatnam South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar has been retained as urban unit president, apparently for his hard work and cadre-based programmes and in view of the impending municipal corporation elections.
That he belongs to the traditional and vocal fishermen community must also have weighed in his favour as former Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao, also from the same community, joined the BJP.
After the illustrious stint of late D.V. Subba Rao as Mayor, TDP had lost the coveted post thrice in a row to the Congress.
Mr. Kumar described his re-nomination as casting more responsibility on him.
“After one year of being in power and elections yet to take place, heading the urban unit is a heavy responsibility,” he told The Hindu .
The new teams are likely to take over after TDP’s annual Mahanadu later this month.
