TDP-JSP's first list irks many, Anantapur cadre, missing seniors disappointed

TADEPALLI: While several Kapu leaders were dismayed over the 13.7 percent of the seat share that the actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan sought from alliance partner TDP, several TDP leaders whose names were conspicuous by absence were found sulking after the official release of the first list of candidates on Saturday.

TDP senior and former Tenali MLA Alapati Rajendraprasad, who was confident of getting a nomination, was in shock after the seat went to Nadendla Manohar of the Jana Sena.

The list made no mention of seniors such as Gorantla Buchaiah Choudhary, Deveineni Umamaheswara Rao, Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy, Yerapatineni Srinivasa Rao, Peetala Sujatha, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Buddha Venkanna, Kimidi Kala Venkat Rao and Chintamaneni Prabhakar.

Speaking to media, Buchaiah Choudhary said that he was confident that the party chief would nominate him in the next list.

Also Read: TDP to contest 94, Jana Sena 24 Assembly seats in first list; new entrants too get chance

Meanwhile, TDP cade in Kalyana Durgam of Anantapur openly defied the nomination of Amilineni Surendra Babu by denying a ticket to Hanumantharaya Choudhary. Irate cadre tore down posters of Nara Chandrababu Naidu at the party office. Similarly, protests erupted in Rayachoti where the party nominated Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy.

While the TDP cadre still hoped for a turnaround during the next list of candidates, the JSP cadre lost hope as their boss was afraid of declaring his name in the list. The name of Pawan Kalyan’s elder brother Naga Babu’s name was also missing. Naga Babu actually wanted to contest from Anakapalle.

Commenting on the first list, Minister for Housing Jogi Ramesh said that the list announced on Saturday proved the prophecy of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy that the YSRCP would win all the 175 seats was true as the TDP-JSP combine could even release a comprehensive list of candidates. “JSP cadre was made to believe that the party would play an important role in the Government if formed. Out of the allocated Pawan Kalyan could only declare names for five, meaning that he had no names for the remaining 19. Sad state of affairs,” Ramesh observed speaking to media.

In West Godavari district names of seven candidates were announced. But none were nominated by the JSP. Reddy Appalanaidu who sought Eluru nomination was disappointed. Many of the JSP leaders from the erstwhile West Godavari district were not available to comment. They said that Pawan Kalyan did not consult them while finalising the list with the TDP.

Buragadda Vedavyas heartbroken

Former deputy Speaker and Kapu leader Buragadda Vedavyas was hospitalised following the denial of the Pedana ticket by the TDP. The seat went to Kagitha Krishna Prasad. Veda Vyas collapsed in a chair after he heard the news. His supporters immediately rushed to a local hospital.

Veda Vyas contested on YSRCP ticket in 2014 but lost. He then joined the TDP in 2016 and was confident that he would be nominated in 2019. He couldn’t take denial for one more time by the TDP.

Meanwhile, another Kapu leader Mandali Budha Prasad who was expecting a nomination from Avanigadda, expressed displeasure over reports that Avanigadda ticket might be given Jana Sena under seat adjustment. “I feel like a free man. I am not born for politics. But now it seems that only money matters in politics,” he observed.

TDP activists go berserk in Penugonda

Angry TDP activists burnt the posters of party Chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu in Penukonda of Anantapur district. TDP nominated State executive secretary and Constituency incharge Savitamma. However, supporters of BK Parthasarathi were furious as their leader was not considered for the seat. A few weeks ago in a party meeting Parthasarathi declared that he would be the party nominee for Penukonda.

TDP cadre in Anakapalle expressed dismay over the allocation of the crucial seat to Jana Sena Party. JSP nominated Konathala Ramakrishna, where as TDP announced its candidates for Payakaraopet (SC) and Narsipatnam in the district. TDP leader Peela Govinda Satyanarayana and his supporters met at the party office and declared that he would contest as an independent if denied ticket.

While the TDP in charge of Gajapathinagaram quit the party after the seat was given to Kondapalli Srinivas, Jaggampet JSP in charge Surya Chandra was in tears after he came to know that the seat was allocated to Jyotula Venkatappa Rao aka Nehru.