The Telugu Desam Party has changed party candidates in five assembly constituencies and party chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday handed over B Forms to candidates. Keeping his promise, he fielded Narasapuram MP K. Raghuramakrishna Raju from Undi and also changed candidates in Madugula, Paderu, Venkatagiri and Madakasira seats.
TDP sitting MLA from Mantena Ramaraj in Undi was asked to pave way for Raju and he was appointed as TDP president for Narsapur Parliament, replacing former MP Thota Sitaramalakshmi, who has been taken into the Polit Bureau.
Former minister and TDP senior leader Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, who is unhappy after his Pendurthy constituency was allotted to the Jana Sena and the party is fielding Panchkarla Ramesh Babu from here.
Now, Chandrababu has decided to field him from Madugula constituency. Though TDP has initially alloted this seat to a newcomer Paila Prasad, now he was replaced for Murthy.
Likewise, in Paderu also earlier the seat was allotted to Venkata Ramesh Naidu. But now, former MLA Giddi Eswari was declared as party’s candidate after realising that she has firm grip in the constituency.
Chandrababu has also changed party candidate for Madakasira of Anantapur district. Instead of Sunil Kumar, party SC Cell president MS, Raju will be fielded from here. In view of former MLC G Thippeswamy’s group strongly opposing Sunil Kumar, party decided to change the candidate.
In Balaji district Venkatagiri constituency also, the party has decided to field former MLA Kurugondla Ramakrishna, instead of his daughter Lakshmi Priya.
After leaving 31 seats to BJP and Jana Sena, TDP is contesting in 144 assembly seats. Chandrababu Naidu handed over B Forms to all candidates on Sunday. However, Anaparthy and Denduluru constituencies were put in pending, as BJP is insisting Denduluru seat replacing present Anaparhty. But, according to sources, TDP candidate Anaparthy Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy is likely to join BJP and contest as its candidate.