The TDP leadership has unexpectedly finalized the names of the MLA quota MLC candidates, completely ignoring senior party leaders. MLC tickets have been allotted to Kavali Greeshma, Beeda Ravichandra, and BT Naidu.
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has finalized the MLC candidates by maintaining a balance between the North Andhra, Coastal, and Rayalaseema regions.
The TDP has been giving a big push to BCs since its inception. In this order, two of the three MLC seats have been allotted to BCs. Kavali Greeshma is the daughter of former Speaker of the combined AP Assembly Pratibha Bharati. Three leaders have been given opportunities according to social groups.
Kavali Greeshma is a leader of the SC Mala community and daughter of former Speaker Pratibha Bharati, Beda Ravichandra, a leader from the Yadava community, and BT Naidu, a leader from the Boya community, as their candidates were selected.
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has given BT Naidu an opportunity to become an MLC once again. To this extent, BT Naidu’s name was officially announced. He is currently an MLC from Jumaladinne, Kosigi mandal, Kurnool district. It is noteworthy that CM Chandrababu has once again given him an opportunity to become an MLC under the MLA quota as his term ends on the 29th of this month.
BT Naidu has been actively working in TDP since 1994. He contested as TDP MP from Kurnool district twice in the past and was defeated. After that, the TDP high command appointed him as the Chairman of the Valmiki Federation. Earlier, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had given him a place as an MLC. BT Naidu also served as the Kurnool district TDP party president.
During the 2024 elections, on the instructions of Chief Minister Chandrababu, he relinquished the post of party president to Thikka Reddy. Party senior leaders like Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and several others who sacrificed their seats from contesting last year’s elections were not considered for these seats.
This selection demonstrates the growing imprint of minister Nara Lokesh in the party affairs and also emergence of a new leadership encouraged by him.