The dissidence in the Telugu Desam Party is yet to die down in Anantapur district with the ticket aspirants, who could not get ‘B’ Form, either filing nominations as rebel candidates, independents or joining other political parties.
Rayadurg, where Minister for I&PR Kalava Srinivasulu, who faced a lot of heat before getting his ticket, is facing rebel trouble from former MLC Gunapati Deepak Reddy with the latter filing his nomination from the constituency as TDP candidate on Thursday.
Many contenders
Kalyandurg is another constituency where a number of aspirants lost out to Uma Maheswara Naidu, but they refuse to fade out of the scene and prominent among them is sitting MLA Unnam Hanumantharaya Chowdary, who refuses to withdraw his nomination from Kalyandurg.
Another aspirant Amilineni Surendra Babu, chairman of S.R. Constructions, who withdrew in favour of Vaikuntam Prabhakar Chowdary in 2014 in Anantapur Urban, was allegedly promised the Kalyandurg ticket, but not given. His followers are getting ready to file nomination on his behalf.
‘Weak candidate’
They allege Mr. Chandrababu Naidu chose a ‘weak’ candidate to help Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Raghuveera Reddy, who is in fray from Kalyandurg.
In Anantapur Urban constituency, another aspirant Jairam Naidu is also said to be sulking and may file his nomination as a rebel candidate. Three TDP Corporators - Division 1, 14 and 43 from Anantapur Municipal Corporation - on Thursday joined the YSRCP.
Similar rebel trouble is continuing in Puttaparthi also with three aspirants threatening to file nominations as independents.
Meanwhile, police personnel raided the house of Rayadurg YSRCP candidate Kapu Ramachandra Reddy to check if cash or other goods meant for distribution during elections was stored there.
Following intervention of the Election Commission, YSRCP Rapthadu Assembly constituency candidate Thopudurthi Prakash Reddy was allowed to campaign in Ramagiri mandal of the district.
