Nirmal BJP chief Ramadevi quits party, likely to contest as independent

 Adilabad: The Nirmal BJP district president Padakanti Ramadevi, who has been denied the party ticket from Mudhole, has announced her resignation from the party and is likely to contest as an independent in the next elections.

Ramadevi unsuccessfully contested as a BJP candidate in the 2014 and 2018 assembly elections but stood second to BRS candidate Vittal Reddy.

It is learnt that she would convene a meeting of her supporters soon and take a final decision about the electoral fight.

Ramadevi felt the BJP high command deceived her by denying the ticket. She claimed that she and her team developed the party from scratch in Mudhole constituency.

“Unfortunately, some new leaders who joined the BJP in the guise of the Sangrama Yatra got the party ticket while senior leaders like me were neglected by the party's high command.”

Ramadevi said she stayed in Mudhole by constructing a house there but spent little time with her family members. I concentrated on party work. I am highly educated and did my MSc and PhD, yet was denied the party ticket.”

The BJP has announced its first list of candidates on Sunday, in which seven from erstwhile Adilabad figured. BJP announced seven out of a total ten candidates for the region after the BRS released its list. The Congress has announced only three candidates so far.

Adilabad BJP district president Payal Shankar would be the party nominee for the Adilabad seat, Palvai Harish Babu for Sirpur (T), Amarajula Sridevi for Bellampalli (SC), Ramesh Rathod for Khanapur (ST), Adilabad BJP MP Soyam Bapurao for Boath (ST), Aleti Maheshwar Reddy for Nirmal and Ramarao Patel for Mudhole in the erstwhile Adilabad district.

Names of BJP candidates for Chennur, Asifabad and Mancherial assembly constituencies are awaited. BJP state executive member Suhasini Reddy, who was denied the party ticket from Adilabad, is also disappointed. She is likely to consult her supporters about her future plans.

Vivek Venkataswamy’s name did not figure in the first list of the BJP. It is learnt that Vivek showed no interest in contesting from Chennur since he was aspiring for the ticket from Dharmapuri.