VIJAYAWADA: As expected Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy’s name has been finalised for TDP nomination for the byelection to Nandyal Assembly seat.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, after taking stock of the situation in Nandyal constituency following the migration of Silpa Mohan Reddy to YSRC with leaders of the party from Kurnool district at his residence on Saturday, decided in favour of Brahmananda Reddy.
Brahmananda Reddy happens to be cousin of Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya for whom she had been lobbying hard for TDP nomination on the grounds that since her late father Bhuma Nagi Reddy represented Nandyal in the Assembly, the seat should go to Bhuma family.
After the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurthy said: “The Chef Minister himself announced Brahmananda Reddy’s name. No other name came up for consideration.”
To another question on the possibility of Nagi Reddy’s friend AV Subba Reddy working at cross-purposes since he was not getting on well with Akhila Priya, Krishnamurthy said: “Subba Reddy also came to the meeting. He told the Chief Minister in unequivocal terms that he would support Akhila Priya and Brahmananda Reddy. There is no problem on this count,” he said and felt that the exit of Silpa Mohan Reddy would not cause any problem to the TDP.
“We know him (Silpa Mohan Reddy) as minister earlier. We know how to face the byelection,” he said.
Silpa Mohan Reddy left the TDP unable to adjust to the suffocating atmosphere in Kurnool district after promotion of Akhila Priya as a minister since he does not see eye to eye with Bhuma family.
Though it was difficult for him to continue in the TDP in the wake of Akhila Priya calling the shots in the district, he, nevertheless, continued with the hope that Naidu would field him for Nandyal seat as he had been working hard as incharge of the constituency after losing the election to Bhuma Nagi Reddy in 2014.
With Akhila Priya and Silpa Mohan Reddy pulling in opposite directions, Naidu could not take a decision for a long time, not wanting to hurt either of them.
But with the exit of Silpa Mohan Reddy, the coast has become clear for Akhila Priya who could have her way in getting nomination for her cousin Brahmananda Reddy.