TDP short of numbers to win RS seats

HYDERABAD: With MLAs from TDP planning to switch over to other parties, winning two seats in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections slated for February looks very dicey for the party.

TDP with a strength of 80 MLAs in the Assembly could win two seats comfortably. However, with a few of its MLAs planning to join other parties, TDP might need support from outside. For each MP seat of the Rajya Sabha, there is a need for support from 39 MLAs.

According sources, six TDP MLAs have made up their mind to join other parties. Three of them are likely to join TRS and three YSR Congress. Apart from this, there is also a possibility that some TDP MLAs cross-vote and defeat the party's official candidates.

With state bifurction looming large dividing MLAs on regional lines, it is difficult to predict what stand the members would take on the day of voting.

In such a situation, the party leadership has to take the support of other party members to get its candidate elected. At present, the party might look at the BJP, which has four members, for support. Apart from this, the party, taking advantage of the divide on regional lines, can also get other party members to cross-vote.

The present situation has put party chief N Chandrababu Naidu in a fix and he is preparing strategies to overcome the crisis. Now, Naidu has to not only make selection of candidates very carefully but also has to see that all his MLAs vote for party candidates.

Already faced with the problem of keeping his flock together due to state bifurcation, Chandrababu Naidu, who is being blamed for not taking a clear stand on the issue, is now in a catch 22 situation.

On earlier occasions, Naidu used to chose one each from Telangana and Seemandhra regions and if one assumes that this time too Naidu would do a similar thing, then also it will be very difficult for him to choose the right candidates.

The fight for RS seat in Seemandhra has already picked up with former MP Kambhampati Ram Mohan Rao and Nellore leader and former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy throwing their hats in the ring. Ram Mohan Rao, who is considered close to Naidu, has connections that matter in New Delhi. He is the one who takes care of all party activities, especially Naidu's visits, in Delhi.

On the other hand, Somireddy, a popular face of TDP in Nellore district, is one of the most effective articulators of the party's policy. He lost 2009 Assembly elections from the Sarvepalli Assembly constituency and contested the byelection from Kovur Assembly constituency in 2012.

Another TDP aspirant for Rajya Sabha from coastal Andhra is TD Janardhan Rao, who is presently working as party's office secretary. He is an expert on agricultural policy and related issues. Even former ministers Ch Ayanna Patrudu and Gorantla Butchaiah Choudhary are trying their luck.

Senior party leader and six-time MLA Mothkupalli Narasimhulu is a strong contender from Telangana. Another key contender is Garikapati Mohan Rao, who has been the backbone of party organisation, and programmes undertaken by Chandrababu.

Other names being heard in the race are: convenor of the party's Telangana Forum and MLA Erabelli Dayakar Rao, Arvindkumar Goud and Nerella Narasimhulu.

If one goes by Naidu's track record, he has always favoured financially sound candidates for RS seats and this time too it is believed that he would follow the same policy.

There is also a rumour doing the rounds that Naidu might give one seat to a member of party founder NT Ramarao. It is believed that Naidu may favour his brother-in-law and actor Balakrishna for the seat.

With Naidu having his own style of zeroing in on candidates, everyone is keeping their fingers crossed.