Vangaveeti Radha joins Jana Sena amid speculation over Vij mayor post
In Short
- Pawan inducts former TDP leader as alliance weighs its candidate for direct mayoral election
- YSRCP’s decision to renominate incumbent Bhagyalakshmi reportedly faces resistance within party
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Jana Sena president and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan welcomes Vangaveeti Radha Krishna into the party at party office in Mangalagiri on Wednesday
Amaravati: In a significant political development ahead of the local body elections, former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna joined the Jana Sena Party on Wednesday, fuelling speculation that he or a member of his family could be fielded for the Vijayawada mayor’s post.
Jana Sena president and Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan welcomed Radha into the party at its office in Mangalagiri. Radha’s induction comes amid seat-sharing negotiations within the NDA alliance, with the Vijayawada mayoral post emerging as a key point of interest for Jana Sena.
The mayoral post has been placed in the unreserved category, and the election is to be held through direct voting. Against this backdrop, Radha’s entry into Jana Sena has assumed significance, particularly as he had continued to be associated with the TDP after the NDA came to power in the state.
It remains unclear whether Radha himself will contest the mayoral election or whether his wife will be fielded as the Jana Sena candidate. Party circles expect clarity soon, as the nomination process is scheduled to begin on October 16. The alliance has yet to make an official announcement on its candidate.
Radha was elected as an MLA in 2004 and joined the TDP shortly before the 2019 Assembly elections. He remained with the party until his move to Jana Sena on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the YSRCP has reportedly decided to renominate incumbent Vijayawada mayor B Bhagyalakshmi.
However, the decision is said to have caused dissatisfaction among a section of party leaders and cadres, who reportedly fear that she could face a difficult contest if the NDA fields Vangaveeti Radha.
The final contest for the Vijayawada mayoral post will depend on the NDA alliance’s seat-sharing decision and its formal announcement of the candidate.
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