BJP announces Krishnaiah, Masthan, Satish in Rajya Sabha TDP Rajyasabha race

    v   With the deadline for Rajya Sabha nominations set for Tuesday, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is eagerly awaiting the finalization of its candidate list. While three Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh remain vacant, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already announced its candidate, nominating BC Sangam leader R Krishnaiah on Monday.

Krishnaiah, who recently resigned from the YSR Congress Party as a Rajya Sabha member, has now been selected as a BJP candidate. Meanwhile, the TDP's candidate list remains unconfirmed, though names such as Beda Mastan Rao and Sana Satish are being discussed.

The TDP is expected to announce two candidates, with the final decisions likely to come soon. Both Beda Mastan Rao and Sana Satish are at the forefront of the party's considerations. The BJP has officially confirmed Krishnaiah as one of its Rajya Sabha nominees from Andhra Pradesh, with the party's leadership issuing an official statement.

Krishnaiah, who is set to file his nomination from the BJP, has already left for Vijayawada from Hyderabad. Both Krishnaiah and Beda Mastan Rao are scheduled to file their nominations at 11 am on Tuesday.

However, the suspense over the third candidate from the alliance continues, as various names, including Sana Satish, are still being evaluated. Efforts are being made by alliance parties to reach a consensus on Satish’s candidacy.

It is also noteworthy that several aspirants have been meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The final Rajya Sabha elections for Andhra Pradesh, prompted by the resignations of three YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MPs - Venkataramana Rao Mopidevi, Beda Mastan Rao Yadav, and Ryaga Krishnaiah- are scheduled for December 20, with the results to be declared on the same day.

The vacancies were created after the resignations of the YSRCP MPs, whose terms extended until 2026 and 2028. With the Election Commission also scheduling bypolls for six vacant Rajya Sabha seats across other States, including Odisha, West Bengal, and Haryana, the race for these critical seats has become even more competitive.