TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has been making his sincere efforts to field sitting MP K Raghuramkrishnam Raju from Narsapur Lok Sabha seat, as TDP candidate, though the seat was formally given to BJP as part of seat sharing formula between three parties in the state.
It was initially felt that after taking this seat BJP would allocate the same for Raju in recognition of his tireless fight against the repressive regime of YS Jaganmohan Reddy for the last four years. However, some influential groups within BJP managed to avoid him, allegedly under the influence of Jaganmohan Reddy.
Presently, BJP announced a little-known party leader Narendra Varma as their candidate from Narsapur. But TDP and Jana Sena leaders are fearing that fielding such a person would facilitate YSRCP to win the seat so easily.
Though initially, Chandrababu decided to field Raju from the Undi assembly seat, now he is making last minute efforts. Two days ago, when BJP senior leaders Arun Singh, Siddardh Nath Singh and Purandeswari met him, along with Pawan Kalyan at his house, to discuss joining the poll campaign, he expressed his apprehensions about the Narsapur seat.
He has reportedly proposed that BJP’s Narsapur LS candidate Narendra Varma may be fielded to the assembly from Undi, provided this seat is left for Raju. BJP leaders have assured him to discuss with the party national leadership.
In the same way, BJP leaders are fearing to contest from Anaparthy assembly, fearing that contesting from a constituency where they do not have even nominal presence would damage chances of Purandeswari candidate from Rajahmundry Lok Sabha.
On the other hand, local TDP cadres insist that their leader Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy should be fielded from here, as he is already on campaign trail. BJP also seems to be ready to give up Anaparthi seat, Thamballapalle, provided they are given another seat in Annamaiah district. Both TDP and BJP are likely to take a final decision on these two seats in a day or two.
The TDP and the BJP are learnt to have decided to exchange Thamballapalle and Anaparthi Assembly constituencies allotted to them as part of the tripartite alliance.
