Winnability main yardstick for TDP ticket

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is understood to have placed quite a few TDP MLAs and MPs under the scanner as he is not very sure if they are the right horses to win the general elections next year. Already indications have been given that those who have estranged themselves from people for various reasons would have to pay a heavy price in the form of denial of tickets.

The criteria that Naidu has is very simple - their performance thus far and any new factors that might mar the prospects of the candidates, since he has to take by his stride the anti-incumbency factor as well. Naidu has already dropped subtle hints to them at the constituency-level meetings he has been holding with the MLAs and MPs.

Naidu is also assuring those who came on top in his assessment that they need not worry about the prospects of getting the party ticket and are being advised to be in the midst of the people all the time to further their winning chances.

The TDP supremo has so far held meetings with leaders from more than 75 Assembly segments and 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the four districts of Rayalaseema, Prakasam and Vizianagaram districts. Those who had taken the leap of faith into the TDP from the YSRCP, "attracted by the efforts Naidu is making to bring all-round development of the state," also might not get tickets as their performance has so far been far from satisfactory.

Reliable sources in the party said that, for instance, performance of the following sitting members has been rated poor. They are: Parchur MLA Yeluri Sambasiva Rao, Amanchi Krishna Mohan (Chirala), Kadiri Babu Rao (Kanigiri) in Prakasam district, Thiriveedi Jaya Ramulu (Badvel-YSRCP defected), Meda Venkata Mallikarjuna Reddy (Rajampet) from Kadapa, Meesala Geetha (Vizianagaram), Kimidi Mrunalini (Chipurupalli- Vizianagaram dist).

Naidu has indicated to Minister Bhuma Akhila Priaya to mend fences with AV Subba Reddy implying that if she continued sabre rattling with him, he may have to think twice in fielding her on the TDP ticket in Allagadda this time. Rajya Sabha member TG Venkatesh has been expecting the ticket for his son, but Naidu has so far remained non-committal.

According to the party sources, Naidu also had negative feedback on leaders, including MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar (Tadikonda), former minister Ravela Kishore Babu (Prathipadu) in Guntur district, and Prabhakar Chowdary (Anantapuram Urban).

Anantapur MP JC Diwakar Reddy has been told very clearly and firmly that he should change his attitude and try to act like a respectable MP. Sources said that Naidu is not in a mood to continue anyone, including JC Diwakar Reddy, if party's interest are at stake. The ongoing clash between JC Diwakar Reddy and Prabhodananda Swamy in Tadipatri has given enough headache to him already.

Naidu has not yet made up his mind in allotting the ticket to former Speaker Kavali Prathibha Bharati's daughter though her mother has been lobbying hard for the Rajam seat. But, sources said, former minister Kondru Murali Mohan who joined the TDP from the Congress recently might be allotted the Rajam ticket in Srikakulam district.