KAKINADA: Main opposition party Telugu Desam and Jana Sena have started searching for suitable candidates from Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency. The development has come after YSRC is said to have decided on fielding Chalamalasetty Sunil, though he has been defeated thrice from the constituency while contesting for the seat from different parties since 2009.
Telugu Desam Kakinada district president Jyothula Naveen Kumar, son of former MLA Jyothula Venkata Appa Rao (Nehru), is aspiring for the seat. The TD high command is said to have asked him to spend Rs. 5 crore in each assembly constituency. The total expenditure will come to Rs. 35 crore.
According to party sources, Naveen is said to have made it clear that he cannot spend such a huge amount. However, he assured the party that he will definitely win the Lok Sabha seat for TD, as he and his father have a strong hold on the constituency. Jyothula Nehru will be contesting from the Jaggampeta Assembly constituency.
However, a senior leader in the party has proposed the name of Sana Sathish for the Kakinada LS ticket before the party high command. Sathish had worked in the electricity department but quit and is now into business. He had been questioned by the CBI for investing money with some business groups 10 years ago.
TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has not assured anyone on giving the Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency. It is learnt he will choose a candidate only after deciding on alliances, if any, before the elections.
Jana Sena too is said to be looking for a suitable candidate for Kakinada LS seat. The party is stated to be keen on fielding former union minister M.M. Pallam Raju, a Congress loyalist and close associate with Gandhi family. “One year ago, I had placed the proposal before him about joining Jana Sena. If he joins JS and contests from the Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency, Jana Sena will win the seat for sure’’ the Jana Sena leader told this reporter.
Jana Sena political affairs committee member Pantham Venkateswara Rao (Nanaji) said choice of the candidate from Kakinada LS seat will be discussed by the party soon and a decision taken.
Incidentally, both Jana Sena and TD feel that they will win the Kakinada Lok Sabha seat easily if YSRC fields Sunil. At present, Vanga Gita is the sitting MP from Kakinada.
