TD leaders sore over BJP tie-up

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 3, 2014:  After the entry of four Congress MLAs along with former minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, into TD, its now seat sharing with BJP that has pushed party aspirants and cadre into disarray.

As part of alliance with the TD in Andhra Pradesh, BJP, is insisting on Vizag north, south and Gajuwaka constituencies, along with Vizag loksabha seat. Especially, the fate of newly joined MLAs is said to be uncertain.

It is learnt that they have joined TD based on the assurances given by party chief N Chandrababu Naidu that they will be given chance to contest from their sitting seats again in these polls. But there seems to be lot of competition for the party tickets in these constituencies.

While two newly joined MLAs, Ch Venkataramaiah and Panchakarla Rameshbabu have been aspiring to contest from Gajuwaka and north constituencies, TD city convenor, Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, who has been actively involved in parry activities since more than 4 years is a strong contender for the Vizag south constituency.

Even as the TD leadership is struggling to accommodate its longtime leaders in the wake of new inductions, alliance with BJP will prove to be another  major headache for Naidu.  

It will be an herculean task for Naidu to satisfy both- party leaders and those who joined recently.

In Gajuwaka constituency, newly inducted PRP leader, Palla Srinivas Rao, is also in the race for TD ticket. For Vizag south constituency, former Vuda chairman and Ex MLA, SA Rehman is also aspiring for the party ticket to contest.

There are reports that if Vizag north goes to BJP, the local aspirant, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu will be accommodated in Yelamanchali, which may irk the sitting MLA, UV Ramanamurthy Raju (Kannababbu), who also joined TD recently.

Meanwhile it is learnt that, TD is in favour of only allotting Vizag south and Araku assembly segments to BJP. The saffron party has once won Vizag South, which was called Vizag-1 before delimitation. BJP AP unit chief, Kambhampati Haribabu won Vizag-1 in 1999.