Balayya declared for Hindupur
Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu announced the candidature of his brother-in-law, actor Nandamuri Balakrishna from the Hindupur Assembly segment, represented by TD founder late N.T. Rama Rao and Harikrishna earlier.
However, N. Harikrishna who made a formal request to Mr Naidu to consider his name for Hindupur Assembly was rejected by the TD chief.
Hindupur, in Anantapur district, has been a TD stronghold since 1983.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr Naidu announced the candidature of Mr Balakrishna at his residence in the presence of TD sitting MLA from Hindupur, Mr Abdul Gani, who supported the decision.
However, in the second list of candidates for Seemandhra Lok Sabha and Assembly seats announced on Saturday morning, Mr Naidu did a balancing act by rejecting renomination of Dasari Balavardhana Rao, the sitting MLA from Gannavaram, a known supporter of Mr Balakrishna. Instead, he selected Vallabhaneni Vamsi, a strong supporter of actor Jr NTR. But Mr Naidu promised to accommodate Mr Balavardhana Rao as chairman of Krishna Dairy Development Federation, considered to be a powerful body in Krishna district.
The TD president also rejected re-nomination of sitting MP from Narasaraopet, Mr Modugula Venugopal Reddy, in favour of five-time Congress MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao.
It is learnt that Mr Venugopal Reddy will be given a ticket from one of the segments in Guntur.
Of the six Lok Sabha candidates, five are new entrants in the party. Former Congress minister J.C Diwakara Reddy has been given Anantapur Lok Sabha seat, while others are Adala Prabhakara Reddy (Nellore), Reddivari Srinivasulu Reddy (Kadapa), Galla Jayadev (Guntur). Actor Muralimohan, a senior leader of Telugu Desam has been offered Rajahmundry seat again.
Of the 40 Assembly candidates announced, a majority are sitting TD MLAs.
J.C. Prabhakara Reddy, brother of Mr Diwakara Reddy, is the TD nominee from Tadipatri Assembly segment. Former Congress ministers G. Kutuhalamma (G.D. Nellore), Galla Aruna Kumari (Chandragiri) are also the party nominees.
MLC Satish Reddy who has been defeated thrice by late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy from the same segment has been fielded to take on Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.