'Immigrants' to TDP gets a jolt - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: A day after the AICC high command had shocked some of the turncoats who joined the Congress from the TDP at the eleventh hour by ignoring them while finalising the list of candidates for the ensuing general polls, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu too gave a similar treatment to those who had joined his party from the Congress.

Contrary to his usual style of announcing party candidates in the nick of time, the TDP supremo on Wednesday released the first list of candidates for seven Lok Sabha and 47 Assembly seats in Seemandhra even before the notification was issued for the May 7 polls.

By releasing the list much ahead of his rivals, Naidu seems to be trying to send a positive signal to his party cadre that the TDP is in a jubilant mood in the wake of its electoral tie-up with the BJP. However, there are not many surprises in the list.

Naidu turned a cold shoulder to Gandluru Veerasiva Reddy, Congress sitting MLA from Kamalapuram, who had joined the TDP a few days ago, and fielded Putta Narasimha Reddy.

Former MLA Challa Ramakrishna Reddy, who had recently joined the TDP and wanted to contest from Banaganapalle Assembly segment, has also been snubbed by the TDP boss. Naidu has nominated BC Janardhan Reddy as his party's candidate.

Meanwhile, the recent admission of JC Diwakar Reddy of the Congress into the TDP seems to have upset his relative and TDP leader G Deepak Reddy, who wanted to contest Rayadurg Assembly seat.

Naidu has opted for his party's former MP Kaluva Srinivas from Rayadurg, instead of renewing party ticket to Deepak Reddy, who had lost the seat during the last bypolls.

According to party sources, as the TDP chief reportedly promised party tickets to JC Diwakar Reddy and his brother Prabhakar Reddy, he has chosen not to re-nominate Deepak Reddy as it would be seen as giving a 'family package' to JC family.

The TDP chief has allotted party nomination to his senior colleague Karanam Balarama Krishna Murthy's son Venkatesh for Addanki Assembly seat.

Party leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu seems to have opted out of the race. Hence, the ticket for Tuni Assembly segment, earlier represented by Yanamala, has gone to his brother Krishnudu.

Former minister Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao, who had rejoined the TDP from the erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party, has been nominated from Etcherla seat, whereas former Speaker Kavali Prathibha Bharathi will test her luck from Rajam.

Naidu's brother-in-law Balakrishna's close aide Kadiri Babu Rao has been fielded from Kanigiri seat.

In the first list, the TDP chief has re-nominated 17 of his party's sitting MLAs, who include Bojjala Gopala Krishna Reddy (Srikalahasti), Devinneni Umamaheswara Rao (Mylavaram), Payyavula Keshav (Uravakonda), Paritala Sunitha (Raptadu) and Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu (Nagari). Naidu will seek reelection from Kuppam Assembly segment.

Of the seven LS candidates, P Ashok Gajapati Raju and NMD Farooq will test their luck from Vizianagaram and Nandyal resepectively, whereas sitting members Konakalla Narayana Rao, Nimmala Kistappa and N Siva Prasad were re-nominated from Machilipatnam, Hindupru and Chittoor respectively.

Srikakulam LS seat went to the late K Yerran Naidu's son Rammohan Naidu.