BJP caught in TDP bickering

Visakhapatnam: The BJP MLC candidate PVN Madhav for Graduates constituency seems unwittingly caught in the turf war within the camp of his alliance partner, the TDP.

The titanic clash between HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Panchayat Raj Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu may adversely impact his fortunes, feel observers.

Madhu, son of a former MLC PV Chalapathi Rao is contesting with the support from the TDP in the Graduates constituency covering Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. Close on the heels, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with the Visakhapatnam party leaders, who included the two ministers, at his residence and tried for a patch-up between the rival groups.

It is a different matter to speculate on the longevity of the peace mission initiated by Naidu.

The gap has widened to the extremes and it was very much manifest in the recent Visakha Utsav that was held here last month. Ayyanna Patrudu boycotted the festival in spite of Chief Minister’s orders and called the Utsav a farce and waste of money.

The second time MLA and close friend of actor Balakrishna and Visakha East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishnababu, Visakha south MLA Vasupalle Ganesh Kumar and Gajuwaka MLA P Srinivasa Rao- all close aides of Ayyanna Patrudu also boycotted the Utsav.

``Perhaps Utsav was the flash point in the strained relations between the two ministers,’’ said a party observer and senior leader of the Telugu Desam.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu himself intervened and warned both the ministers several times in the past to patch up since it was causing a vertical division in the party.

Naidu cannot snub Ganta Srinivasa Rao since he proved himself to be highly resourceful in the last elections. Srinivasa Rao not only ensured his own win from Bhimili but helped several MLAs in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakha rural areas mobilising his own resources.

Srinivasa Rao’s close aide M Srinivasa Rao also won Lok Sabha seat from Anakapalle though his nomination was opposed by local MLA Peela Govind Satyanarayana and Minister Ayyanna Patrudu. On the other hand, Ayyanna Patrudu enjoys the support of Nara Lokesh and actor Balakrishna.

“If the row does not end here, it will have an impact on the ensuing MLC polls and the municipal corporation elections which could be held after budget session. Out of 1.5 lakh voters for North Andhra Graduates constituency, 90,000 voters are in Visakhapatnam district,’’ said another senior leader.

In addition to the row between the Ministers, the Chief Minister has to focus in the rural areas. In Chodavaram, the entire second-rung party leaders fell out with MLA K S N Raju for his style of functioning while Lok Sabha member M Srinivasa Rao and MLA Peela Govind Satyanarayana do not see eye
to eye.

The party split into three groups in Paderu but the leadership is not focusing since the constituency is represented by YSRCP leader Giddi Eswari.