VIJAYAWADA: Internal group politics within main opposition Telugu Desam are turning out to be a bane for the party in Vijayawada. Separate groups headed by TD MP Kesineni Srinivas, popular as Nani, party MLC Buddha Venkanna, and another leader Nagulmeera have entered into a major tussle for party tickets in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) elections, which is turning out to be a major headache for TD leadership.
Vijayawada city is an important political centre. Its corporation was bagged by Telugu Desam the last time. In an attempt to retain VMC for TDP, party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked MP Nani to oversee the municipal elections in the city this time. Polling will be held for VMC on March 10 and counting of votes will be on March 14.
Last time, Telugu Desam chose Koneru Sridhar of Vijayawada East constituency as the mayor. Thus, TD leaders of central and west constituencies are seeking that the mayor be chosen from their areas this time around.
Sources say Kesineni Swetha, daughter of Kesineni Nani will be Telugu Desam’s mayoral candidate, but her choice is being opposed by Buddha Venkanna, Nagulmeera and other dissident leaders.
Former TD corporator Gundarapu Haribabu’s daughter had Pujitha proposed to contest elections as the corporator from the 39th Division on behalf of Telugu Desam. She is a follower of Buddha Venkanna. Taking her by surprise, TD has now announced that K. Siva Sarma will be the TD candidate.
As Sarma was formerly with the YSRC, his nomination is now being opposed by certain leaders within the Telugu Desam Party. So much so, when MP Nani came to inaugurate the election office of Siva Sarma, dissident leaders, including Pujitha, accosted the MP and heated arguments ensued between the two groups.
Similarly, there are conflicts within the TDP in other divisions of Vijayawada too. This could hugely impact the party in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation elections, thereby helping YSRC in the civic body polls.
MP Nani has, however, maintained that differences of opinion are common within a political party and intra-party issues within the Telugu Desam in various divisions will be resolved soon. He said TD is determined to again emerge winner in VMC with people of Vijayawada continuing to support the party.
Meanwhile, YSR Congress candidates have speeded up their campaign in Vijayawada city to swing voters in their favour, including holding door-to-door campaigns. Party’s candidate from 28th Division Punuru Likhita is assuring that she will develop Vijayawada city with support of the YSRC government in the coming years.
Dr. Likhita said earlier Telugu Desam government allotted houses to only its party cadres. Not a single house was allotted to common people. She has assured that YSRC government will allot houses to all eligible without any political bias. She alleged that despite being in power for five years in VMC, TD has not resolved the issues being faced people in Vijayawada.
Like her, YSRC nominees in several other divisions of the city are carrying out door-to-door campaigns seeking votes for the ruling party in the forthcoming Vijayawada Municipal Corporation elections.
