Hyderabad: Significantly, there were speculations over an unnamed Union minister from the state who, according to veteran BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, was willing to join the BJP.
The name of Union minister D. Purandeswari topped the guess list, given her husband Daggubati Venkateswara Rao’s brief stint in the party and continued relationship with the RSS.
“We thought it could be Purandeswari,” a senior BJP leader said, adding that the BJP was working hard to win the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat because of its pan-India electorate which, according to the party, is swayed by the Modi wave.
The BJP, sources said, will press for the Guntur Lok Sabha seat in case the alliance with the Telugu Desam comes through. Noted industrialist Prabhakar Chowdary of Nuzividu Seeds is already tipped to be the party candidate from Guntur. He made elaborate arrangements in Guntur recently for the BJP-sponsored ‘Run for Unity’.
“It is doubtful if the TD will concede both the Guntur and Narasaraopet seats from where Sambasiva Rao is hoping to try his luck,” said a senior TD leader.
Rajagopal set his eyes on Eluru as the TD categorically made it clear that it will not forgo Vijayawada from where he has won twice.
Nani of Kesineni Private Travels is the strong contender for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat.
Rajahmundry Congress MP Vundavilli Arun Kumar may not hav a vacancy in the BJP because the TD will not lose the seat to the alliance. Actor Murali Mohan who narrowly lost to Arun Kumar is keen on winning this time.
