The Election Commission has issued the notification regarding the schedule of election to fill the three vacancies of Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh. Nominations open from 3 December and remain open till 10 December and the last date for withdrawal of nominations would be 13 December. Voting would take place on 20 December and counting of votes and declaration of result on the same date itself.
With this, the three vacancies arise on YSR Congress Party with the resignations of Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao, Beedha Mastan, and R. Krishnayya. Those resignations follow the setback by the party in the election recently, allowing fresh names to the Rajya Sabha.
A major development in this context is that one of the Rajya Sabha seats will be contested by Nagababu, brother of Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan. Pawan Kalyan wants to send Nagababu to the Rajya Sabha as a part of an overall strategy to strengthen the political representation of Jana Sena at the national level.
During the last elections, Nagababu was supposed to contest for an MP seat from Anakapalli. But due to seat-sharing adjustments in the Jana Sena-TDP-BJP alliance, he had to withdraw himself. Strongly backed by Pawan Kalyan and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, the chances of Nagababu’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha look very bright.
For another Rajya Sabha seat, TDP is thinking of considering Nandamuri Suhasini, daughter of late Nandamuri Harikrishna. If it goes through, it will be a signal that the party is serious about retaining legacy and strengthening its leadership.
The BJP would also come up with a candidate for the third seat. The party is likely to put forward a strong contender for the third seat to consolidate the party’s position in the state.
The official declaration of the nominees is also due soon, which would make news in political circles. These elections would bring a change in the representation of Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, which would be part of the overall political strategies ahead of the 2024 general elections.