Four Kapu MLAs in EG keen to join TDP

• TDP leaders busy wooing Kapus back
• Kapus can benefit party greatly in polls
• RS ticket given to Sitarama Lakshmi

Kakinada: Massive political upheavals are expected in East Godavari district with the Telugu Desam Party going all-out to woo leaders belonging to Kapu community back into its fold. It may be recalled that East Godavari district was a strong bastion of TDP earlier.

Four sitting Congress MLAs, who had left TDP and joined Praja Rajyam, are said to be keen on returning to TDP. They are Thota Trimurtulu (Ramachandrapuram), Kothapet MLA Bandaru Satyananda Rao, Pantham Gandhi Mohan (Peddapuram) and Vanga Geetha from Pithapuram. If the TDP succeeds in its efforts, the Kapu leaders would once again play a prominent role in the party.

The district Congress leaders are dejected by the Congress move to divide the State. As all sections of people in Seemandhra are seething with anger at the Congress decision, the leaders are worrying over their electoral prospects and are actively looking for greener pastures.

Though, Chandrababu Naidu has not come out openly in support of united State, they are nevertheless keen to leave Congress for TDP. It is apt to recall here that TDP chief has recently announced that he would strive to extend reservations to Kapu community. It may be recalled that YSRCP is also not extending any invitation to them with tickets.

Though Thota Trimurtulu won the recent by-election on Congress ticket from Ramachandrapuram, it could be described as his personal effort. Now, he is thinking of quitting the Congress party after he has realised that there was is future for him in it. Jyothula Nehru has tried to rope in Trimurtulu to join YSRCP. However, former minister Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and former minister Pinipe Viswaroop have reportedly not agreed to the proposal. TDP leadership is now wooing Trimurtulu to join the party to field him as its candidate from Ramachandrapuram Assembly segment.

Another former TDP leader and Kothapet Congress MLA Bandaru Satyananda Rao is also waiting for the green signal to join TDP. Most likely he will contest from Kothapet on TDP ticket.

Boddu Bhaskar Rama Rao in Peddapuram joined YSR Congress leaving the TDP. The present Congress MLA Pantam Gandhi Mohan appears inclined to join the TDP. However, Pragati Educational Institutions head Paruchuri Krishna Rao’s name has been proposed by the Kamma community as the TDP candidate. However, the TDP has been thinking to field Thota Vani, wife of Congress minister Thota Narasimham, as its candidate from Peddapuram. It may be noted that Vani is the daughter of former minister and TDP leader Dr Metla Satyanarayana.

Pithapuram MLA Vanga Geeta, who joined Praja Rajyam party from TDP, is in a piquant situation to continue in Congress. However, the TDP leadership is not ready to invite her into its fold. They point out that while Varma has been selected for Pithapuram, Potula Viswam would contest from Kakinada Parliament seat and ask where would Vanga Geeta fit in.

The Kakinada Rural MLA, Chiranjivi’s blue-eyed boy Kurasala Kanna Babu is the only leader who would remain in Congress since he has no political background. Except him, every other leader is ready to join TDP in East Godavari district.

In Amalapuram parliamentary constituency, the TDP has already given green signal to former minister Gollapalli Surya Rao to launch election propaganda. However, some other leaders are trying to win over TDP chief to invite the present MP GV Harsha Kumar.