Businessmen to enter poll fray

Vijayawada: The business of cash in political parties may prove to be a costly affair in the forthcoming elections in Krishna district.

Industrialists and businessmen are likely to contest in the coming elections.

All major political parties plan to field industrialists in the two parliamentary constituencies as well as various Assembly constituencies in the district.

According to reports, YSR Congress and Telugu Desam are planning to field  industrialists as candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Most of the major political parties are expecting the candidates to spend at least Rs 50 crore on  the election expenses. 

While speculations are rife that YSRC is likely to field a city-based industrialist from the Vijayawada  constituency, TD has already finalised the name of Kesineni Nani as party candidate  from Vijayawada.

He has already spent nearly Rs 5 crore for TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s walkathon and several publicity campaigns in the district.

Recently, he also constructed a two-storey office building for party activities. Both parliamentary  candidates are likely to spend Rs 50 crore each.

YSRC had selected industrialist and former ZP chairman K. Nageswara Rao for the Machilipatnam constituency but his sudden death led to a controversy when TD state secretary Varla Ramaiah alleged that the former ZP chairman had died due to pressure from the YSRC for party funds to get the Machilipatnam seat.

Now Nageswara Rao’s son K. Vidyasagar is expecting the ticket after his father’s demise. Industrialist Sujana Chowdary’s name is also  making its rounds in political circles.

Similarly, well-known names from films and business houses are likely to jump into the fray for Machilipatnam constituency.

Earlier, Congress had fielded industrialist Badiga Ramakrishna Rao for the same seat. Now  TD MP K. Narayana Rao is ready to sacrifice the seat due to increasing election budget.

Several industrialists and business personalities are competing for several Assembly constituencies in the district and are already spending for publicity campaigns in various constituencies and are emerging as new leaders. Every leader is ready to spend Rs 5 crore for Assembly segment, says one aspirant from the YSRC.

Significantly, no businessman is vying for the Congress seat.