VISAKHAPATNAM: The MLC elections in Visakhapatnam district took an interesting turn with former MLA and TDP leader UV Ramana Murty Raju (Kannababu) filing nominations for both the MLC seats as an Independent against the party decision on Monday. The TDP high command had already chosen its two senior leaders former MPs MVVS Murthi and Pappala Chalapati Rao for both the seats.
Kannababu maintained silence till the party official candidates filed nominations, but later filed his nominations challenging the party decision. He poured out his grievance to his confidants and is learnt to have said that the party high command had given an assurance to him during the 2014 general elections that he would be offered an MLC seat. He reportedly said that the party betrayed him by reneging on its promise.
The party high command directed HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao to pacify Kannababu and ensure that the latter dropped from the contest. The minister and senior TDP leaders swung into action to placate Kannababu but the latter had reportedly made it clear that he would contest and win.
As the YSR Congress is not fielding its candidates in the elections, sources said that it would back Kannababu. Further, the former MLA has good rapport with the elected representatives of various parties in the local bodies. Sources said that Kannababu had already got assurances from the YSRC, Congress and Left parties. With an aim to defeat official nominees, the Opposition parties have decided to support Kannababu, sources added.
Meanwhile, MVVS Murthi and Pappala Chalapati Rao filed their nominations in the presence of ministers Ch Ayyanna Patrudu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, MPs K Haribabu, M Srinivasa Rao and also MLAs and other people’s representatives. Later speaking to media, Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that the TDP would win both the seats hands down as the party had clear majority in the local bodies.
Murthi, a heavyweight of the party, earlier represented Visakhapatnam in the Lok Sabha and also served as the VUDA chairman for a full term. Murthi is a firm loyalist of the party and president of GITAM University. Pappala Chalapati Rao is a former Anakapalle MP and has also represented Yelamanchili in the state Assembly. Rao is also the former chairman of the TTD Trust Board. Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, wary of taking any risk, this time opted for big guns. Irrespective of groupism in the party and as the top seniors are contesting, all the leaders are united in supporting Murthi and Chalapati Rao. However, if Kannababu stays in the race, a keen contest will be in the offing, much to the chagrin of the TDP high command.
