Visakhapatnam: TDP projects four candidates for the mayoral post

Visakhapatnam: Telugu Desam Party leaders, MLAs, former MLAs and MLCs had a long discussion until midnight to finalise the Mayor candidate for the ensuing GVMC elections.

Finally, the party decided to project four candidates for the most coveted post. Of the four candidates approved by the district leadership, three had served as MLAs in the past.

If they have to contest for the Mayoral post, they have to compete as a Corporator. A person, who represented a constituency as an MLA, feels little odd to contest as a Corporator. But, as far as TDP is concerned, it seems there is no other alternative.

Sources said that the party experienced difficulty in selecting a BC candidate for the Mayor's post.

Although, there are many BC candidates in the party to contest as Corporator in the civic body polls, the Telugu Desam is focusing on former MLAs as the party lacks in second-tier leadership. Moreover, the candidate must be strong financially to stand as a Mayor.

The names of former MLAs Gandi Babji, Tippala Gurumurthy Reddy and Palla Srinivasa Rao appear to be on the priority list for the post.

Of these, Palla Srinivasa Rao has already expressed his unwillingness. However, it is learnt that the party leadership is putting pressure on him.

In the general elections, he contested against Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan in Gajuwaka constituency. He won in the 2014 elections as an MLA from Gajuwaka constituency contesting as TDP candidate. Earlier, he had contested as an MP candidate in Visakhapatnam on Praja Rajyam symbol and came in second place. The TDP hopes to project Srinivasa Rao as party's Mayoral candidate.

On the other hand, Tippala Gurumurthy Reddy won the Pendurthi constituency as an MLA during the Congress party rule. But he was not given a party ticket for the second time because of which he stayed away from politics for a few years. He also served as Chairman of the Gajuwaka Municipality.

Gurumurthy Reddy joined the YSRCP before the last elections. But he did not get any ticket which made him join the TDP before the 2019 elections. "After discussing with the party leaders and activists, a decision towards this effect will be taken," he shared.

In the case of Gandi Babji, he won the Pendurthi constituency as MLA on behalf of the Congress party. In 2014 elections, he got the ticket from YSRC and lost against Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy. Before 2019 general elections, he joined the TDP. However, he failed to get the party ticket. "I am ready to do what the party high command tells me to do so," he told The Hans India.

Mohammed Nazeer was projected as the fourth candidate who is a minority leader. The party is expecting clarity from the TDP chief N.Chandrababu Naidu on Mayor candidate by Thursday.