Old guard bows out, ensuring tickets for sons, daughters

AMARAVATI: Dynasty politics is getting its due in TDP.


Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has given tickets to at least 10 relatives of MLAs and ministers.

Although it is being dubbed as a do-or-die battle for TDP, Naidu has decided to go with young leaders as he is fully confident of returning to power.

Most of these seats are part of a bargain--the old generation would bow out of contention in return for tickets to sons, daughters, nephews and nieces.

The 81-year old deputy chief minister K E Krishna Murthy has convinced Naidu to field his son K E Syam from his family bastion Dhone in Kurnool district. He has been a MLA six times since 1978. He also represented Kurnool in the Lok Sabha. He, however, shifted loyalties between Congress and TDP and served as minister in both the governments.

Women and child welfare minister Paritala Sunita, too, has taken the back seat to push his son Sriram into electoral politics. Sriram will contest from Rapthadu constituency in Anantapur district.

Tadipatri MLA J C Prabhakara Reddy has won ticket for his son Asmith Reddy. His elder brother and MP J C Diwakar Reddy has snatched a LS ticket for his son Pawan Kumar Reddy.

Veteran MLA Gauthu Syam Sunder Sivaji has decided to retire from politics by ensuring that his daughter Gauthu Sirisha got the TDP nod to contest from Palasa in Srikakulam district. Sivaji is a six-time MLA and served as minister for a brief while in the past. He is the son of noted freedom fighter and BC leader Gauthu Lachanna.

Naidu has replaced former minister Kimidi Mrinalini with her son Nagarjuna from Chipurupalli in Vizianagaram district. Interestingly, the late Union minister Yerrannaidu’s daughter Adireddi Bhavani made a surprise entry into politics when TDP decided to field her from Rajahmundry Urban seat. Her younger brother Rammohannaidu is Srikakulam MP and uncle Atchannaidu is a minister in the state cabinet.

Although Naidu dropped his long-time associate Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy from the cabinet on health grounds, he has kept the family in good humour by fielding Reddy’s son Sudheer from Srikalahasti segment.

The family of former minister Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu was divided following the sudden death of Gali six months ago. His sons fought for the MLC berth fell vacant due to Naidu’s death. Finally, the CM granted the seat to Gali’s widow. After settling family disputes, Naidu has granted ticket to Gali’s son Bhanu Prakash from Nagari.

Former minister Devineni Nehru’s son Avinash will contest from Gudivada in Krishna district while MLA Jaleel Khan’s daughter Shabana Khatoon is trying her luck from Vijayawada West.

However senior leaders Ch Ayyannapatrudu and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao were unsuccessful in getting tickets to their relatives as the CM insisted them to continue in public life.