TDP keeps slots open for Ganta
Visakhapatnam: The Telugu Desam Party which has almost finalised its list of candidates contesting in Assembly election from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency area has left the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha and three Assembly seats vacant.
The list is reportedly finalised by the Opposition leader in the Legislative Council, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, in consultation with party workers and the president N Chandrababu Naidu, when the latter was in the city recently.
The TDP candidates whose names are said to have been finalised are sitting MLA Velagapudi Rama Krishna Babu for Visakhapatnam East, Urban president Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar for Vizag South, former MLA Ganababu for Vizag West and former Minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy for Pendurthi. But, names have not been announced for the Vizag Lok Sabha seat, Vizag North, Bheemunipatnam and Gajuwaka Assembly seats.
It is an open secret that these spots are reserved for Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and his men who include legislators Avanti Srinivasa Rao (Bheemunipatnam), Ch Venkatramaiah (Gajuwaka) and Panchakarla Ramesh Babu (Pendurthi).
But Ganta himself appears undecided on joining the TDP, and he is believed to have sought time till January 23 for taking a decision either way. It is also said that he is awaiting the decision of a BJP-TDP alliance which would boost the chances of the regional party in the State to some extent, before he crossed over to the TDP.
It is also likely that Yalamanchili legislator U V Ramana Murthy Raju (Kannababu) who is now supporting Ganta, will join the TDP or whichever party Ganta decides to join.
Though there are aspirants for the TDP ticket in Gajuwaka, Bheemunipatnam, and Visakhapatnam North, they are left vacant for Ganta and his men, as Chandrababu Naidu has promised to accommodate them all, it is learnt.
News Posted: 3 January, 2014
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