Former Speaker's son revolts against TD high command in Sattenapalli constituency

VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam cadres are split in groups in the Sattenapalli assembly constituency following the appointment of Kanna Lakshminarayana as the segment in-charge.

This meant ignoring Kodela Sivaram, son of late assembly speaker Kodela Sivaprasad. Sivaram revolted against the TD high-command, saying the party is giving importance to political turncoats and ignoring the services and sacrifices of Kodela Sivaprasad.

He complained that the party leadership was denying him an appointment for the past three years.

Kodela Sivaprasad had been elected from Sattenapalli in the 2014 elections but he faced a humiliating defeat in the 2019 elections. The public beat him up when he tried to create a ruckus in a polling booth on the polling day.

Sivaprasad later committed suicide and Sivaram was working for the party in the hope of getting the party in-charge post and a TD ticket for the 2024 elections.

Four strong leaders were seeking TD in-charge post and by extension the party ticket, in Sattenapalli. Sivaram, former MLA Anjaneyulu, Abburu Malli and Nagothu Souraiah were hoping to get the in-charge post. With this end in view, they had been organising the party programmes in full throttle for the past four years.

Water resources minister Ambati Rambabu is representing Sattenapalli constituency, where Kapus and Kammas are the dominant segments of the population. Rambabu is Kapu and Sivaram a Kamma. Kanna Lakshminarayana too is from Kapu community. He is a five-time legislator and has a strong hold in Guntur district. Recently Lakshminarayana joined the TD. According to party sources, he sought ticket for Pedkurapadu constituency from where he had won four times, or Guntur West or Sattenapalli.

After reviewing the ground situation, Chandrababu Naidu decided to appoint Lakshminarayana as incharge for Sattenapalli, hoping to attract both Kapu and Kamma communities to the TD in the coming elections. This decision shocked Sivaram and other TD ticket aspirants. TD leaders including the party’s AP president Kinjarapu Atchannaidu tried to pacify them with an assurance that justice could be done to them once the TD returns to power in 2024.

But Sivaram could not be pacified. He revolted against the TD high-command, alleging that a major injustice was done to the Kodela family.

Sivaram expressed his anger over the appointment of Kanna Lakshminarayana as the TD in-charge for Sattenapalli. He said he would contest from Sattenapalli and win.

He said it was painful that the TD leaders not allocating five minutes of time in the recent Mahanadu conclave to remember the services of his father to the TD and for paying tributes to him who had given his life for the party.

Sivaram asked, "How Lakshminarayana who changed three parties -- Congress, BJP and now TD -- has been given the position in Sattenapalli by ignoring the services of my father, who had dedicatedly worked for the TD for all 36 years of its existence."

Sivaram expressed his anguish that his mother was also insulted as she has been waiting for three years to meet Chandrababu to explain their problems. But both the mother and son have not been given an appointment. “I will consult my supporters and take a decision about my future course,” he said.