Internal contradictions are playing havoc within the Andhra Pradesh unit of BJP, even after announcement of its candidates for all six Lok Sabha constituencies, it is contesting. Former state chief Somu Veerraju, who is known for his proximity with YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy insisted on contesting from Rajahmundry Lok Sabha seat till last minute.
However, as the party leadership decided state party chief and former union minister D Purandeswari should contest from here, he seems to be restless. Now he is insisting on contesting from the Anaparthy assembly constituency, for which TDP has already announced its candidate.
But, both TDP and Jana Sena cadre are expressing apprehension that contesting a candidate like Somu Veerraju, whose ground-level appeal is very poor, would be advantageous to the ruling YSRCP. Even Purandeswari threatened that if Veerraju contests from Anaparthy, she will not contest from Rajahmundry Lok Sabha, as that assembly segment comes under her constituency.
She made it clear that if Veerraju is a candidate for one of the assembly segments in the Lok Sabha constituency, it would be difficult for any one to win in the Lok Sabha seat. It may be recalled that Narsapur MP Raghurama Krishnam Raju openly accused that it was Veerraju, who had lobbied against him with the directions from YS Jagan and denied him Narsapur seat this time, as BJP here fielding its own candidate.
Though TDP offered Vizianagaram Lok Sabha seat for BJP to facilitate its state vice president and former MLC PVN Madhav to contest, the party said to be insisting for Rajampet seat so that former chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy would contest from there. However, TDP circles expressed apprehension that in view of considerable number of Muslim voters in the constituency, it would be suicidal if a BJP candidate contested from there.
Even Kiran Kumar Reddy’s own brother, Santosh Kumar Reddy, who is contesting as TDP candidate from their home assembly constituency, advised his brother against contesting from here. He fears that it would affect as many as four assembly segments in the Lok Sabha constituency. But, BJP insiders stating that Kiran Kumar Reddy insisted on contesting from here.
