Vangaveeti Radha to join TDP on Jan 25

Vijayawada: The political heat has begun in the political capital of the state with the new developments in city politics. Former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, who quit the YSR Congress Party giving a major jolt to the party, is all set to join TDP on January 25, while new faces are entering the election fray a few months ahead to elections.  

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is said to have discussed the joining of Radhakrishna into the party with the leadership of Krishna district party unit late on Monday night. Radhakrishna contested on YSR Congress ticket from Vijayawada East constituency in the Assembly elections in 2014 and even after losing the election he continued in the party till his resignation three days ago.

In solidarity with Radha, several YSRCP corporators too tendered resigned to the party. They have given a call not to vote for YSR Congress. Even though there is no official announcement about his position in the party in near future, he may be given an MLC seat in the forthcoming election in March by the TDP.

In another development, Vijayawada West MLA Jaleel Khan announced his daughter's name Shabana Khatoon as his successor to contest from West constituency in the forthcoming election. He met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday along with his daughter. He said that the TDP chief had accepted his daughter’s candidature. 

Though there are rumours about his daughter’s entry, she never participated in any programme or public function. But now she met the Chief Minister and released her photos with him to the media. 

Meanwhile, the TDP leadership assured to do justice to Devineni Avinash, son of former Congress minister Devineni Nehru. Indeed, Avinash is also aspiring for the Assembly ticket but he has not got any assurance in this regard. He contested on Congress ticket for Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency in 2014.

Now there is no clarity on his political future but he has been appointed as the president of State Telugu Yuvatha. Vijayawada urban TDP president Buddha Venkanna said that the party would protect the interests of Avinash.