TDP set to field Panabaka Lakshmi in Tirupati LS seat

Tirupati: The political situation in Tirupati Parliamentary constituency is going to be interesting with both ruling and opposition parties contemplating to field new faces this time. Sitting YSRCP MP from Tirupati V Varaprasada Rao resigned along with other MPs of his party in protest against Centre's attitude in giving Special Category Status to AP.

Sources say he was denied ticket this time and the party high command is asking him to contest from either Gudur or Satyavedu Assembly constituencies for which he was reportedly reluctant. The party is said to be considering the names of former Gudur MLA B Durgaprasada Rao and industrialist Madhusudan Rao who joined recently in the party. But no decision has been taken yet.

Similarly, TDP is going to field a new face in the constituency, as its candidate has contested here only in 2009 after 1998 as it gave the seat to BJP as part of alliance in 1999, 2004 and 2014. The party is taking it seriously to win this seat which they could not win after 1984 and is trying to field a strong candidate. It is considering several candidates for this seat, including B Sukumar, a local doctor and former IPS officer K Jayaram who was defeated in 2014 elections as BJP candidate.

Surprisingly, former Union minister of state and four-time MP Panabaka Lakshmi's name has been doing rounds as TDP candidate for the seat. According to reliable sources, the party has already taken the decision in her favour but will announce it once she resigns from the Congress and joins TDP. Her husband Panabaka Krishnaiah, former CPRO of South Central Railway, is now holding the post of Nellore DCC president.

The couple is expected to join TDP at any time and the party sources are saying that she can give a tough fight in the elections. The constituency has four Assembly segments – Gudur, Sullurpet, Venkatagiri and Sarvepalli in Nellore district -- while another three , Tirupati, Satyavedu and Srikalahasti, are in Chittoor district. Lakshmi represented from Nellore in Parliament thrice and from Bapatla once.

On the other hand, as YSRCP's V Varaprasada Rao is said to be reluctant to contest from Gudur or Satyavedu, there is no clarity on his future course of action. It is to be seen whether he abides by party's decision or join TDP, which will make the fight for the TDP ticket even more interesting.

Congress will field its senior leader and six-time MP Chinta Mohan though the official announcement will come after party central election committee takes a formal decision. Though there is no clarity on BJP and Jana Sena candidates yet, Tirupati is expected to see a triangular contest among TDP, YSRCP and Congress candidates.