Everyone expected that SVSN Varma would be the first choice for TDP to select as its candidate in the MLC elections from MLAs quota. As he sacrificed his sitting seat Pithapuram to enable Jana Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to get a `comfortable’ seat to contest in the polls.
After his defeat in both the seats he contested in 2019 polls, Pawan Kalyan was scared to contest from those seats again and he was unable to identify a more suitable seat in the entire state. At that time both Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan promised him that he would be given the first MLC seat as soon as the coalition parties came to power.
Though there was discontent among TDP cadre for giving its sitting seat to Pawan Kalyan, Verma wholeheartedly extended his support and played a key role in Jana Sena winning the seat with a record margin. It was openly endorsed by Pawan Kalyan himself.
However, there is a lot of talk that Pawan Kalyan is checking Varma after the MLC seats have fallen vacant twice even after the government came to power. TDP sources are suspecting that Jana Sena is scared that if Varma became MLC, his clout within the constituency also will grow more.
As Pawan Kalyan himself cannot concentrate more on the constituency, if Varma established himself as a influential leader in the constituency it would be difficult for the Jana Sena in the coming elections they are forced to contest by coming out from the alliance with TDP in 2029 polls. Though BJP is expected to be with Jana Sena, their strength is insignificant at field level.
Jana Sena Minister Nadendla Manohar’s comments in this regard give suspicion on the fears of that party. Stating that Pithapuram is the fortress of Pawan Kalyan, he indirectly indicated that they would not allow another `power center’ there. However, he made it clear that Jana Sena has no role in TDP selection of its MLC candidates.
He said that Varma is a very senior politician and his party (TDP) will take a decision on this matter. He said that the MLC seat for Varma is an internal matter of TDP and they have no objection to respecting Varma. He ruled out that his party is trying to check the influence of Varma in Pithapuram and asked why there is a need for them to check Varma?
Meanwhile, responding to the denial of MLC seat to him by the party, Varma said that his journey with CM Chandrababu has been going on for 23 years. He said that he will not be sad just because he did not get the post and confident that Chandrababu will always try to do him justice. He said that Chandrababu may not have been able to give the post this time due to some equations.
Varma asserted that he has been continuously available and serving the people of Pithapuram. He said that the opportunity to serve people is itself a big post for him. Varma said that he will always have Chandrababu’s blessings and that he, his wife and children worked hard by adhering to the alliance’s decision during the elections.
