VIJAYAWADA: Continuing the suspense over the possibility of his party fielding fourth candidate in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu picked businessmen-turned-politicos- Y Satyanarayana (Sujana) Chowdary and TG Venkatesh for the two seats, which his party has got after allotting one seat to its ally, the BJP, in these elections.
After sending feelers on Sunday that he was considering sending his long-time colleague in the party and also Dalit leader JR Pushparaj to the Upper House of Parliament, Naidu had a change of mind on Monday. He preferred industrialist and former Congress minister TG Venkatesh, who had earlier deserted Naidu only to join the Congress party during YSR’s tenure.
Naidu formally announced the candidatures of Sujana and Venkatesh for the biennial elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from the state.
“As both Sujana and Venkatesh are well experienced and capable leaders, I have chosen them for the Rajya Sabha. Already, Sujana being a Union minister is working hard for the state. Hence, I have renewed his membership as his presence in Delhi will do justice for the state,” Naidu said while addressing mediapersons in Vijayawada.
However, Naidu’s decision to pick industrialists for the two seats is being criticised by some of his party seniors, during private talks with scribes.
“How can he pick TG Venkatesh, who has been inactive in party affairs after his defeat in the general elections? Moreover, Venkatesh has been intermittently issuing controversial statements on new capital’s location and special status issue cornering the party leadership. Despite all this, our party chief preferred Venkatesh to long-serving leaders in the party,” a veteran leader, who had aspired for the seat, lamented.
On the issue of fielding fourth candidate in the polls to deny YSRC nominee Vijay Sai Reddy, Naidu said, “Our party is still thinking whether to field a fourth candidate or not. How can A-2 accused in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s assets’ cases could be allowed to enter the Upper House?”
On the other hand, YSRC took strong exception to the ruling party’s proposal to field fourth candidate, even though it can win only three seats as per its numerical strength in the State Assembly.
“Naidu, who preaches morals time and again, is known for encouraging horse-trading practices in politics. He is exposing his true face for one more time. The TDP is offering Rs 40 crore to our MLAs to resort to cross-voting. But, we are sure our Vijaya Sai Reddy will win the polls, even if TDP fields its fourth candidate,” YSRC leader Umareddy Venkateswarlu said.
Nominees to file papers today: All the three members from the TDP-BJP combine, railway minister Suresh Prabhu (BJP), Union minister Sujana Chowdary (TDP) and TG Venkatesh (TDP) will file their nomination papers on Tuesday which is the last day for filing nominations for the RS.