Putting an end to the stalemate between TDP and BJP over the candidate of Anaparthi assembly segment in East Godavari district, TDP leader from here Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy has joined BJP. BJP State President and its Lok Sabha candidate D. Purandeshwari declared that he will contest as BJP candidate from Anaparthi.
He joined BJP in the presence of Purandeswari, state election in-charge Siddhartha Nath Singh and BJP general secretary Arun Singh. Problem arises when TDP allocated Anaparthi seat to BJP as part of seat sharing formula, but the BJP has no potential candidate from here. By that time TDP had already declared Ramakrishna Reddy as its candidate and he started his campaign also.
Sensing that BJP candidate Sivaramakrishna Raju will be a light- weight and it will be difficult for her to win from Rajahmundry Lok Sabha with a weak candidate in Anaparthi, Purandeswari had herself invited Ramakrishna Reddy to join BJP and contest as its candidate. However, initially he rejected the offer and said he will contest as TDP candidate only.
Meanwhile, BJP proposed TDP to take back Anaparthi seat and give them Denduluru in Eluru district or Thamballapalle in Annamayya district. But due to various combinations, TDP found it not viable and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu personally convinced Ramakrishna Reddy to join BJP and contest as its candidate.
Ramakrishna Reddy’s presence at the time of Purandeswari filing her nominations gave a big relief to both BJP and TDP as that indicated he is not ready to contest as an independent candidate. Finally, his joining BJP gave relief to both TDp and BJP.
Sivaramakrishna Raju, who had earlier announced as the BJP candidate, said that he would work according to the word of the party. He clarified that his aim is to win the BJP candidate in Anaparthi and send him to the Assembly, stating that the decision of the party is paramount.