TDP caught in a cleft stick over Gannavaram
Vijayawada: In a dramatic overnight development, Telugu Desam Party is confronted with a triple trouble in the Gannavaram constituency, which goes to polls on May 7.
To make matters worse each of the three contenders is a senior leader enjoying huge individual base. With the three leaders commanding individually formidable strength in the constituency, it has become a herculean task for the party leadership to zero in on a mutually agreeable consensus candidate.
Interestingly, Gannavaram had been a sure-shot seat for the party right from its inception. However, it has also been grounded by rebellion.
Incumbent Legislator D V Balavardhana Rao is having a tough time following the emergence of young leader Vallabhaneni Vamsimohan, who is aspiring for the seat this time. Vamsi, a staunch loyalist of Junior NTR, was shifted to Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency as a compromise in the 2009 elections paving the way for Balavardhana Rao.
While the latter won the seat, Vamsi lost the Lok Sabha seat to Lagadapati Rajagopal. Later, the leadership had made Vamsi the president of the party urban unit and allowed him to continue as Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency in-charge.
However, the re-entry of travel-tycoon, Kesineni Srinivas, who is also pitching for a Lok Sabha seat, has altered the situation. Consequently, Vamsi was limited to the urban president post, which also he lost out subsequently, particularly in the wake of his meeting with YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in Vijayawada amid rumors that he would join the YSR Congress along with two close friends, Gudivada MLA Kodali Nani and former legislator Vangaveeti Radhakrishna.
After a partial fall-out with the actor, dust has settled even as Vamsi's home-coming has ignited fresh controversy in Gannavaram.
Claiming that the party leadership had promised him the Gannavaram seat, Vamsi also revealed that Balavardhana Rao had opted out of the 2014 race when he was given ticket in 2009. Denying any such statements, Rao reiterated that he would be the party's official candidate in the ensuing elections.
The resultant outcome is that the committed cadre is a confused lot that may hamper the poll prospects of the party in what was considered among the safest bets for the Telugu Desam Party.
News Posted: 7 March, 2014
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