The TDP-led NDA in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday decided not to contest the MLC by-elections for the Visakhapatnam local authorities constituency. To this extent, TDP President and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu informed the party and alliance leaders in a teleconference. It is learned that CM Chandrababu Naidu told the TDP leaders that winning the election is not a big deal and that they will be treated with respect for forming an alliance.
Leaders of TDP’s partner parties Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BJP supported CM Naidu’s decision to stay away from the Legislative Council by-election. CM Chandrababu Naidu took this decision after the six-member committee submitted its report. A committee consisting of leaders from TDP, JSP and BJP consulted with the ground level leaders.
Tuesday (August 13) is also the last date for filing nominations for the by-election. Former minister Botsa Satyanarayana filed nomination as YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) candidate on Monday. The name of Baira Dilip Chakraborty was heard in the political circles as the NDA candidate. But the TDP leader decided not to field the candidate.
Out of total 838 voters (corporators, councillors, ZPTCs, MPTCs) in the joint Visakha district local authority, more than 500 people belong to YSRCP, and they are sure to win the election. A group of leaders in the alliance is of the opinion that the representatives of the local organizations belonging to the YSRCP will support the ruling coalition if they field their candidate so that they can undertake development work in their respective areas.
The by-election will be held on August 30 for the vacant MLC position due to the disqualification of Chennuboina Srinivasa Rao. Srinivasa Rao, real name Vamsi Krishna Yadav, was disqualified from the post of council chairman MLC in March under the Anti-Defection Act. Srinivasa Rao was elected to the Assembly on JSP ticket from Visakhapatnam South Constituency in the elections held on May 13. Two nominations have been filed so far for the by-election.
While Botsa Satyanarayana filed nomination as YSRCP candidate, Sheikh Shafiullah filed nomination as independent. Botsa Satyanarayana, one of the senior YSRCP leaders, previously served as the Minister of Municipal Administration, Urban Development and Human Resource Development in the Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSRCP government.
Satyanarayana was defeated by TDP candidate K Kalavenkata Rao from Chipurupalli constituency of Vizianagaram district in the recently held assembly elections.
A senior politician from North Andhra region, he was elected thrice from Cheepurupalli constituency. Between 2004 and 2014, he served as a minister in the Congress governments in united Andhra Pradesh. He led the Congress party in the undivided state. Satyanarayana was also elected to Lok Sabha from Bobbili constituency in 1999. He joined YSRCP in 2015 after the division of Andhra Pradesh.