TDP changes 4 Assembly candidates: RRR, Bandaru, MS Raju, Giddi Eswari get tickets

AMARAVATI: Even as the process for nomination of candidates for the simultaneous elections in Andhra Pradesh has begun, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has made last-minute changes in four Assembly seats it previously announced for. The TDP is fielding Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju (RRR) from Undi, Bandaru Satyanarayanamurthy from Madugula, MS Raju from Madakasira and Giddi Eswari from Paderu

TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu made this announcement at the zonal in-charges meeting here in party headquarters on Sunday.

As per the announcement, sitting YSR Congress MP Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju (RRR) from Narasapuram will now contest as a TDP candidate for the Undi Assembly seat in the same district. Initially, the TDP wanted to field RRR from the Narasapuram Lok Sabha seat. However, the BJP leadership did not agree to spare the seat as it went to the BJP under the NDA arrangement. The BJP then handed over the B-Form to its candidate Srinivasa Verma. RRR’s wife Rama Devi submitted a set of nomination papers on behalf of her husband on Friday last from Undi.

The TDP also replaced its candidate Paila Prasada Rao, an NRI in Madugula, Anakapalle district. Considering his lack of drive and influence in the constituency, Naidu decided to replace him with party senior and former minister Bandaru Satyanarayanamurthy. Bandaru recently met Naidu and expressed his dissatisfaction with being left out without a nomination. It is at the behest of BJP nominee from Anakapalle Lok Sabha seat CM Ramesh that Chandrababu Naidu decided to field Bandaru.

The TDP also changed its candidate Anil Kumar from Madakasira (SC) Constiituency in Sri Satyasai district candidate Anil Kumar succumbing to pressure from former MLC Thippeswamy’s faction. The new entrant, TDP Dalit wing’s head MS Raju of Anantapur district, will now contest from this seat.

Finally, the TDP changed K Venkata Ramesh Naidu, its Paderu Assembly candidate, and replaced him with a turncoat leader Giddi Eswari. She is TDP in-charge of Paderu. On April 4, Eswari decided to contest as an independent after being denied a nomination by the TDP.

Eswari, a teacher by profession, was elected as YCP MLA in 2014 from Paderu (ST) constituency. She later joined the TDP during the term itself

Meanwhile, TDP is still grappling with finalising candidates for Venkatagiri, Denduluru, Tamballapalli, and Anaparthi.

Earlier, the TDP nominated K Lakshmipriya, daughter of former MLA Kurugondla Ramakrishna from Venkatagiri. However, according to the changed plan, the yellow party will nominate Ramakrishna again.

The TDP also kept the B forms pending for Denduluru and Tamballapalli. The nominations might be announced after seeking clarity on Anaparthi seat with the BJP. The Aanaparthi seat has been allocated to the BJP under seat adjustment.

However, the TDP aspirant Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy may join the BJP and contest on the saffron party ticket from Anaparthi.