VIJAYAWADA: The ruling YSRC has postponed the release of its third list of candidates following swift political changes. The day witnessed Telugu Desam rebel MP Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani joining the ruling party, Kurnool MP Dr Sanjeev Kumar quitting YSRC and abnormal changes in several other constituencies.
Deliberations on ticket finalisation will, however, continue on Thursday. Sources said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Reddy will complete the third list of 25–30 names by Thursday night.
After meeting the CM, Kesineni Nani said he has sent his resignation letter to the Lok Sabha speaker by mail and has also resigned from TD.
Nani said, “I met the Chief Minister as a courtesy. The CM received me well and said let's work together. I have decided to travel with Jagan Mohan Reddy from now on.”
Sources said in a bid to pacify sulking Penamaluru MLA K. Parthasarathy, Jagan Mohan Reddy offered him the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seat. But Parthasarathy remained adamant about recontesting from Penamaluru.
Making good use of the situation, TD leaders plunged into action, offering Penamaluru or Nuzvid to Parthasarathy in an effort to bring him into the TD fold.
Another unhappy MLA from Ongole Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, and close relative of Jagan Mohan Reddy, tried to meet the Chief Minister for past three days but in vain. Srinivasa Reddy left for Hyderabad saying he will contest only from Ongole after getting a clarification from the CM.
Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy is planning to join Telugu Desam if the YSRC fails to give him the ticket.
Industries minister Gudivada Amarnath has managed to meet the Chief Minister with regard to his constituency. However, after completion of his talks with Jagan Mohan Reddy, Amarnath said he had met the CM on the issue of laying the foundation for the ₹2,500 crore cement plant in Kurnool. Amarnath said he is not worried about the Chief Minister allotting the ticket from Pendurthi or Chodavaram. He expressed confidence that CM will take a suitable decision regarding his constituency.
Sources said that Jagan Mohan Reddy is considering several names for Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat, including Botsa Jhansi, wife of minister Botsa Satyanarayana. A famous Telugu cinema director is also trying to get the MP ticket from Visakhapatnam. A decision on majority of the MP tickets, including from Vijayawada, will be taken in a day or two.
