Vijayawada: New entrants into the Vijayawada Parliamentary segment are adding colour to TD politics. While names like Gadde Rammohan Rao and Devineni Avinash have been doing the rounds for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha ticket, APNRT’s president and NRI Dr Ravi Vemuru is also reportedly competing for a ticket.
Though Dr Ravi Vemuru clarified that he has no political inclination, his name is still being seriously considered for either the Vijayawada or Guntur Lok Sabha segments.
“If TD wants young faces to appear in the next Lok Sabha, the youth will be given priority,” said a party politico-bureau member.
In fact, Gadde Rammohan Rao is reportedly playing his cards close to his chest when it comes to a Lok Sabha seat in the year 2019, since he already has experience as an MP. Also, his lobbying with a few TD seniors has given the impression that he would be comfortable, if given a chance to contest for a Lok Sabha seat.
On the other hand, a new contender, Dr Ravi Vemuru, is also said to be in the race for a Lok Sabha ticket, under the NRI quota. When contacted, Dr Ravi Vemuru dismissed the speculation as just rumours.
“I am happy serving the NRI community as the president of APNRT. I must deliver the goods here as a responsible man in APNRT,” Dr Ravi Vemuru clarified.
As of today, former Minister Devineni Rajasekhar’s (Nehru) son and TD youth leader Devineni Avinash are busy consolidating the party cadres in the erstwhile Kankipadu segment, which his father Mr Nehru had represented.
By integrating party cadres in Penamaluru and Kankipadu mandals, of which 50 divisions fall under VMC, Devineni Avinash has been regularly conducting programmes in the capital city.
As part of his strategy, he is now concentrating on sensitising party cadres in Payakapuram, Kandrika, Gannavaram, Ramavarappadu, Enik-epadu, Nidamanuru, Vijayawada rural villages, Nunna, Mylavaram, Gollapudi, Raynapadu, Paiduri padu, Jakkampdu and Kotteru Tadepalli on local issues and keeping them updated on different disciplines of public interest.
“Avinash is exactly following his father late Nehru’s strategy of constantly being in touch with the party cadres. This would help him in 2019,” a follower of late Nehru said.
At present, MP Mr Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) is reportedly not interested in contesting the elections again. The party is also not serious about his candidature after an incident which took place at the Transport Commiss-ioner’s office. So, TD leaders are looking at young faces within the party.
Incidentally, IT and PR & RD Minister Nara Lokesh is responsible for the Vijayawada parliamentary segment, so he will concentrate more on this segment, especially when it comes to choosing the candidate, according to party sources.
