The Hindu : Ex-MLAs hit campaign trail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ex-MLAs hit campaign trail

By Our Staff Reporter

ELURU, FEB 17. Telugu Desam members of the dissolved Assembly have begun election campaign in their own style in at least 10 out of 16 Assembly segments in West Godavari district, much before the finalisation of candidates by the party top brass for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. For them, their re-nomination is almost a foregone conclusion. Lack of second line leadership for a variety of reasons seems leaving party high-ups with no option but to re-nominate the sitting MLAs in such constituencies.

The Endowments Minister, Dandu Sivaramaraju's assertion during the party's flag festival that he and Kalindi Ramachandra Raju being fielded by the party from Attili and Undi constituencies respectively is just a formality has raised the hackles of his rivals. Taking strong objection to the Minister's statement, a group of Mr. Ramachandra Raju's critics in the party on Monday declared that they would take up the issue with the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, similar campaign by the Tanuku MLA, Y.T. Raja, is reported to have boomeranged in a village adjoining Tanuku. Wall-writings in the village projecting Mr. Raja as the candidate of the TDP for the segment has reportedly become a cause of concern for the party's local leaders.

According to insiders, the Assembly segments where the party leadership has no alternative but to field the sitting MLAs include Chintalapudi represented by the Minister for Major Industries, Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao, Narasapur, held by the Minister for Power, K. Subbarayudu, and Attili, the home constituency of Mr. Sivarama Raju. The TDP chief is expected to re-nominate the MLA, Allu Venkata Satyanarayana in Palacole like in the past by virtue of the mega star, Chiranjeevi, becoming his political godfather. The same is the case with Mr. P.V. Narasimha Raju, the sitting MLA of Bhimavaram, who is sure of securing party ticket with the support of Ramalinga Raju of Satyam Computers.

The sitting MLAs have stronghold in their constuencies for several years. Winning the election for such MLAs like Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao and K. Subbarayudu among others is almost a foregone conclusion. Mr. Subbarayudu, Mr. Vidyadhara Rao and Mr. Ramachandra Raju of Undi had never tasted defeat in their political career since 1983.

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