KAKINADA: There is intense tussle within the Telugu Desam for the post of Kakinada Rural constituency in-charge, as there is a possibility that the appointee may also be given the assembly ticket to contest from this seat.
Pilli Anantha Lakshmi has won twice as MLA from the constituency on a TD ticket, including during 2014–2019. Her husband Pilli Satyanarayana Murthy is also a state TD leader.
After YSRC came to power, however, Satyanarayana Murthy started maintaining a distance from TDP. He also did not actively participate in local body elections. At one stage, there had even been speculation that he may shift his loyalties.
However, Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu called Satyanarayana Murthy and had a talk with him. him and directed him to strengthen the party.
Following this, Satyanarayana Murthy also attended Kakinada Rural constituency’s TD coordination meeting on Saturday with his followers. Still, some of the TD cadre in the constituency are angry with him for not extending support when ruling party workers had been harassing them in their villages.
Some persons like P. Perabathula Rajasekhara of Konaseema district, Penke Srinivasa Baba and Vasamsetty Satya are also eyeing the Kakinada Rural constituency. They are even claiming that they will be getting the ticket for contesting from the constituency in the next elections.
Rajasekhar has been with the party for past many years. Vasamsetty Satya contested from Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 elections but lost.
Some of the party cadre are also proposing former minister and senior party leader Chikkala Ramachandra Rao. Known to be a helpful politician, Chikkala had won as MLA five times from Tallarevu constituency, which had three mandals – Kajuluru, Tallarevu and Karapa.
In 2009, during reorganisation of constituencies, Tallarevu got dropped asan assembly segment. Tallarevu’s three mandals went to three separate constituencies Ramachandrapuram, Kakinada Rural and Mummidivaram.
Certain TD cadres are now backing Ramachandra Rao’s candidature from Kakinada Rural, as he has the capability to bring all cadres and leaders on one platform. There is also another group of cadres, who want him to focus on strengthening Telugu Desam in Kakinada city and ensure its victory in the next assembly elections.
