TD TO ANNOUNCE RS CANDIDATES ON MARCH 11

As the last date for filling the nominations in the Rajya Sabha elections comes closer, the TD leadership has started the exercise of the selection of the party candidates.

According to sources, the TD has finalised the name of Bidam Masthan Rao, former MLA from Nellore district who belongs to the Yadava community. TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s decision to give one Rajya Sabha seat to the Yadava community in the TS has forced the TD to select a name from the Yadava community.

From the SCs, former MLC Jupudi Prabhakar Rao and TD Spokesperson Varla Ramaiah names are under consideration. After jumping into the TD from YSR Congress, Mr Prabhakar was given an MLC ticket by the TD in the past. But he has no Voter ID in the new state of Andhra Pradesh and has become ineligible to become an MLC in the new AP.

Against this background, the TD leadership is now considering his name for the Rajya Sabha. Mr Ramaiah is also a strong contender for the Rajya Sabha seat and his name is also under consideration for the party leadership.

The AP elections will be held for 3 Rajya Sabha seats. To win in the first round of the Rajya Sabha elections, one requires the support of 44 MLAs. According to present strength, the YSRC has 44 MLAs and the TD has 131 MLAs, including the support of 4 BJP MLAs in the 175-member AP Assembly. To win all the 3 seats, the TD is short of one MLA. The TD leadership wants to field 3 candidates. But in the party there are different opinions on the choice of the 3rd candidate.

If the TD fielded only two candidates; all the 3 candidates, two from the TD and one from the YSRC would be elected unanimously. If the TD decided to field a 3rd candidate, present Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh who is due to retire in April, it would face an election.