TDP leaders in a spot over delimitation

Following Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement of no delimitation in 2019 general elections, seven TDP assembly constituency in-charges are wracking their brains about their future

Atmakuru: The TDP district leaders hopes were dashed with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh making it clear that there would be no delimitation of constituencies in the 2019 general elections. Several candidates, who unsuccessfully contested from TDP in the last elections, are raring to go in 2019 elections.

Following the Rajnath Singh’s statement, seven TDP assembly constituency in-charges are wracking their brains about their future. The ruling TDP entrusted the YSRCP MLAs, who joined the TDP, with the responsibility of taking care of assembly constituencies. It fuelled groupism in the district unit of the party. In this backdrop, Rajanath Singh’s statement put the future of TDP in-charge persons in a quandary.

Budda Rajasekhara Reddy was elected to Assembly from Srisailam on YSRCP ticket and later crossed over to the TDP. Rajasekhara Reddy is apparently amicable with TDP in-charge Silpa Chakrapani Reddy, but at the same fuelling dissidence among the party rank and file.

Allagadda legislator Bhuma Akhila Priya along with her father Nagi Reddy crossed over to TDP, but did not give up enmity with TDP in-charge Gangula Prakash Reddy.

Nandyal MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy joined the TDP quitting the YSRCP. But he is crossing swords with his erstwhile rival and TDP Allagadda in-charge Silpa Mohan Reddy on a daily basis.

Kurnool legislator SV Mohan Reddy crossed over to TDP from YSRCP. But his opponent is Rajya Sabha member TG Venkatesh, who has plans to field his son TG Bharat in 2019 elections. Kodumuru YSRCP MLA Mani Gandhi crossed over to TDP, but the Kodumuru TDP in-charge Raja Vishnuvardhana Reddy, a strong leader, is exercising authority over the constituency.

TDP leader KE Prabhakar has set his eyes on Panyam seat for the 2019 elections and mounting pressure on Erasu Pratapa Reddy—TDP in-charge for Panyam—to make way for Prabhakar in the next elections.

TDP leader Mandra Sivananda Reddy gained a good grip over Nandikotkur Assembly constituency sidelining assembly constituency in-charge Venkataswamy.

The TDP in-charge persons have been sending feelers to TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu appealing for party nomination in the 2019 elections sidelining the party hoppers from the YSRCP. Suspecting the party leadership favouring the YSRCP MLAs, who crossed over to the TDP, the TDP assembly constituency in-charge persons allegedly kicked off confabulations among themselves on how to get YSRCP party tickets.

M Sathya Peter