Priority to winning MLC elections, shun over-confidence: CM tells party leaders

Naidu asked all leaders including ministers, MLAs and MPs to extensively work in coordination with two other allies for winning all the three seats. “There should be no negligence or over-confidence in this endeavour. Seek votes on the basis of our government’s programmes and performance in the past seven months,” he said.
Naidu announced Alapati Rajendra Prasad as the alliance’s candidate for the Krishna-Guntur Graduates’ constituency MLC seat and Perabathula Rajasekhar for the GC-MLC seat of the two Godavari districts.

For the Srikakulam-Vizianagaram-Visakhapatnam Teacher's constituency MLC seat, the TD is yet to take a decision. The party might support MLC Pakalapati Raghu Varma, who is planning a rerun.

The MLCs who are going to retire are Illa Venkateswara Rao from East-West Godavari Graduates’ constituency and KS Lakshmana Rao from Krishna-Guntur Graduates’ constituency as also Pakalapati Raghu Varma from Srikakulam-Vizianagaram-Visakhapatnam Teacher's constituency.

As per ECI’s schedule, the last date for making nominations is on February 10, scrutiny on Feb 11, the last date for withdrawal is Feb 13, and the election on Feb 27 from 8am to 4pm. The counting of votes and declaration of results will be on March 3.

Alapati Rajendra Prasad is TD in-charge of Tenali constituency. He sacrificed his seat in the recently held assembly elections, as the Tenali seat went to Jana Sena in the alliance format. Nadendla Manohar contested and won the seat on behalf of the JS.
In view of this, Naidu gave a ticket to him. Prasad now got the MLC ticket for the Krishna-Guntur Graduates’ constituency.

Perabathula Rajasekhar from I Polavaram mandal got ticket for the Graduates Constituency from the Godavari districts. In the previous elections, he was expected to get the Kakinada Rural ticket. But as part of the alliance, this seat also went to Jana Sena. Hence, he has been allotted a seat in the MLC elections for the graduates' constituency of both Godavari districts. Perabathula Rajasekhar belongs to the Kapu community, which also helped him to get the ticket.

Naidu asked the allies –JS and BJP -- to organise coordination meetings to boost the chances of the alliance candidates' success. He stressed the importance of reaching out to every graduate to ensure wins with substantial majority. He felt educated individuals are backing the TD-led alliance.

“Engage with clusters, units, booth in-charges and leaders from Jana Sena and BJP committees to strengthen the alliance’s prospects. These elections are crucial for sustained governance,” he said.