TDP shocked, pushed to corner as partner BJP fields candidates in its constituencies

VIJAYAWADA: The BJP released its list of ten Assembly candidates in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday and the allotment of candidates in two of those seats has not gone down well with its alliance partner TDP. The TDP cadre in Araku and Anaparthy were miffed that the BJP announced its candidates from these constituencies which the party hoped to contest and win.

In Araku Valley (ST) Assembly seat, the TDP had already finalised its candidate and wanted to field senior leader Siyyari Donnu Dora. However, with the BJP announcing the name of Pangi Rajarao, the TDP cadre were left fuming. Donnu Dora had toiled hard in the constituency for the last four years and was disappointed in not getting a ticket.

Also Read: Is BJP ready to fall for another use-and-throw trick of Naidu; or is it mutual this time?

The situation is similarly in Anaparthy in Kakinada. Nearly 20 TDP leaders submitted resignation to the party with the BJP fielding its candidate from the constituency. The cadres were shock as they expected a ticket to be given to Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy who won as the MLA from the constituency in 2014 but was defeated in 2019.

The TDP cadres said that Ramakrishna Reddy's father and former MLA Nallamilli Moola Reddy had worked hard for strengthening the party since its incorporation by NT Rama Rao and this was not how he should have been paid back.

Also Read: TDP, BJP, JSP grapple to make nice with one another in AP; mutual trust missing

Disappointed over not getting a ticket, Ramakrishna Reddy said that he would neither help his party not would campaign to vote for the BJP candidate Shiva Krishnam Raju. He was angry that Chandrababu Naidu betrayed his trust. He questioned how the seat was allotted to the BJP which has no cadre strength in the constituency.

Ramakrishna Reddy's followers too protested against Chandrababu Naidu by burning TDP pamphlets and a bicycle (TDP symbol). Nallamilli then had a meeting with his followers at his residence who advised him to contest as an independent from the constituency. Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy said that he would make a decision soon in this regard.

Now Paderu is the only Assembly constituency from Alluri Sitharama Raju district where the alliance partners are yet to name a candidate. The TDP has not won in Paderu Assembly constituency in the last two decades. It was former MLA and Minister M Manikumari who had last won from the party during the 1999 elections.