KAKINADA: Differences appear to have cropped up between Telugu Desam senior leader and former minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and his cousin Yanamala Krishnudu over the issue of contesting as TD’s candidate from Tuni constituency.
For past four days, the two leaders have been jointly organising meetings of party cadres in three mandals – Thondangi, Kotanandur and Tuni, for collecting their opinion with regard to forthcoming elections. In the meetings, the entire cadre have demanded that the party high command allot the Tuni assembly seat to Yanamala Krishnudu in the 2024 assembly elections.
Their demand came after former MLA Raja Ashok Babu recently met Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, leading to speculation that Ashok Babu will be given TD ticket from Tuni, side-lining Krishnudu this time. The development
occurred even as name of Divya, Yanamala Ramakrishndu’s daughter, is getting
projected as TD’s candidate. These two reports have led to anger within Krishnudu’s supporters.
Party leaders A. Ramesh, L. Bhaskar and Shaik Johny underlined that people
are this time sympathetic towards Krishnudu, as he has been defeated twice
from the constituency. There is a wave in favour of Telugu Desam in the run
up to 2024 elections and Krishnudu is bound to emerge victorious this time,
they contend.
Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has clarified that TD high command is supreme. Either he or his cousin Krishnudu are only party workers and Chandrababu Naidu is the elder of the family. Naidu will take a decision who should contest from Tuni and everyone should abide by his choice.
Yanamala Krishnudu told Deccan Chronicle that there are no differences between his brother and him. “We are both living as blood brothers. Ramakrishnudu is my ‘God’ and a good human being. The issue of party ticket
is a very small matter and will be sorted out soon,” he stated.
Incidentally, when Telugu Desam had been founded by late N.T. Rama Rao, the
latter had given the party ticket to Yanamala Krishnudu, who had been already in politics since 1978. But Krishnudu passed on his B. Form to Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who was then an advocate.
Since then, Ramakrishnudu has enjoyed legislature posts, whether the party is in power or in opposition. Even now, he is the opposition leader in AP Legislative Council. Though Ramakrishnudu has been elected as MLA for six times from Tuni, all issues within the constituency are taken care of by his cousin Krishnudu. If any person wants any work in the constituency, he approaches Krishnudu, not Ramakrishnudu.
