Agitations, protests continue as TDP loyalists denied tickets in second list

VIJAYAWADA: Soon after the TDP announced its second list on Thursday, rumblings began within the party, especially with senior leaders, who were denied tickets.

Among prominent names, Former Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao held a secret meeting with his followers in a private guest house in Rushikonda after the TDP denied to give him a ticket from Bhimili. Ganta always wanted to contest from that seat. He is now taking a call on whether to continue in the party or not.

Visakhapatnam South constituency in-charge Gandi Babji too had resigned from TDP. He took this decision after the Vizag South seat was allotted to Jana Sena candidate Vamsi Yadav.

Also Read: TDP second list: Chandrababu Naidu focuses on second generation leaders

In Vijayawada, TDP cadres from Puttaparthi protested in front of Chandrababu Naidu's residence after the party allocated a ticket to Palle Raghunatha Reddy's daughter-in-law Sindhura in the second list. 

The cadres from Puttaparthi demanded that tickets should be allocated to backward classes. Leaders from the Vaddera community staged a dharna and said that they have been cheated for the last 30 years. Mallela Jayaram, a leader of Vaddera community, helmed the protest who was later detained by the police.

In Penamuluru, followers of Bode Prasad expressed resentment after he was denied a ticket. Bode's followers said that they have been in the party for the last 40 years and yet were dishonoured. They said that went Chandrababu Naidu was lodged in jail, they staged a relay hunger strike for 53 days. Since Bode was denied a ticket, his followers decided to work against the TDP and the Penamuluru party candidate.