TDP renominates 72 MLAs in first list

Treading a cautious path, the ruling Telugu Desam Party has renominated only 72 MLAs in its first list of Assembly candidates released here yesterday.

In a strategic move, Naidu has not announced any candidates for the two Rayalaseema districts of Kurnool and Anantapur where there is a likelihood that the TDP may introduce new faces.

This possibility though extends to other seats also. The state assembly has 294 seats, out of which the TDP has allotted 27 seats to its electoral ally, the BJP.

The first list included the names of 27 ministers in the 39-member state cabinet, including that of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Announcing the names of the candidates for the 72 constituencies, TDP supremo and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu predicted a landslide victory for his party in the Assembly and Parliament elections slated on April 20 and April 26.

Prominent among the leaders who figured in the first list are finance minister Y Ramakrishnudu, home minister T Devender Goud, revenue minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, industries minister K Vidyadhara Rao, panchayat raj minister N Janardhan Reddy, irrigation minister K Srihari, health minister Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and commercial taxes minister K Vijayarama Rao.

Among the prominent cabinet ministers who did not find a place in the first list are agriculture minister Vadde Shobhanadrishwar Rao, technical education minister N Anjaneyulu and labour minister P Babu Mohan.

Echoing the 'number' sentiment that has become one of the most important thing being religiously followed by the ruling party after the assassination bid on Naidu, the TDP supremo said, "Seventy-two plus 27 (allocated to BJP) will become 99. And whatever assignment being taken up on the auspicious day of Ugadi will meet with success. Numbers are on our side, New Year eve predictions are on our side and 'jyotishya' is on our side. We will win."

He started announcing the names at about 2.50 pm in the afternoon which is again considered to be an auspicious time of the day. Of the names announced for the 72 seats, elections for only 35 seats will be held in the first phase of the elections.

Ministers of state rank who failed to figure in the list are textile minister P Bhumanna, backward class welfare minister N Narasimharao and women and child welfare minister S Saraswati.

Significantly, M Manikumari, the other woman minister with minister of state rank whose husband was killed by outlawed People's War Group a couple of days ago figures in the first list.

While stating that utmost care was taken in finalising the names of candidates in terms of acceptability, winning chances and clean image and social justice, TDP supremo insisted that he spent 10 hours each day for the past fifteen days on the finalisation exercise.

The second list, which will also include the names for Lok Sabha constituencies is expected to be released on 23 March.

As far as announcing candidates to Assembly constituencies are concerned, the TDP has grabbed the first place among all other political parties in the state as other political parties are yet to make similar announcements.

The timing is also marked by the prolonged talks going on between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on seat-sharing for the past three days in Delhi.

According to sources, the two parties could not arrive at an understanding over few Assembly seats and only Lok Sabha constituency.

Earlier, the TRS had announced that the Congress has agreed to allot 42 assembly seats and six Lok Sabha seats to it.

Final talks for seat adjustments between the Congress and the two Left parties are also going on in Delhi.