Too many aspirants in TDP; Naidu under pressure

YSRCP has shown consistency. It did not make any last minute changes like the TDP. The main reason for the comfort enjoyed by the YSRCP is the fact that the party has no obligation to any other party since it had not entered into any tie-up. The signals from the CPM also were not responded to. The TDP, on the other hand, had to concede 4 Lok Sabha and 15 Assembly seats in Seemandhra to BJP thus antagonising those TDP leaders who have been serving the party in those constituencies for years despite being out of power. Added to this, Naidu had to contend with film star Pavan Kalyan who has been insisting on Vijayawada LS seat for his man Friday, Potluri Vara Prasad who is rumoured as the financier of the top hero for his political activity.

Kesineni Nani has been slogging in the constituency for years spending his own money and using his buses to ferry people for TDP meetings. The party cadres have sympathy for Nani. Even Harikrishna and Balakrishna are reportedly in his favour. Chandrababu Naidu, chief of the TDP, had to endure tremendous pressure on account of Vijayawada LS ticket. He had to sit up to 3 am on Monday morning to study the pros and cons. Komati Jayaram, a wealthy NRI who descended from the US in time for elections, also has been camping in Hyderabad trying for Vijayawada LS ticket. At one point of time D Purandeswari, former Union Minister who joined the BJP recently, was hoping to be a candidate of the saffron party from Vijayawada. Pavan Kalyan would be upset with PV Prasad not getting the Vijayawada ticket.

Pavan has to be satisfied by fielding Prasad from Vijayawada East and persuading Yalamanchili Ravi, by far an honest politician, to stay out of the fray in the interest of the party. Penamaluru may find Harikrishna as the TDP candidate. Added advantage and disadvantage for the TDP is the influx of the Congress leaders in Seemandhra. For every Congress leader accommodated, the TDP had to displease scores of aspirants including those who lost narrowly in the last elections. Naidu was hard pressed and he had used all his skills and patience to wriggle out of the tight corner.