Senior TDP leaders still stand as models to party cadre

Patibandla Srinivas

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Amaravati, April 2: Some senior leaders of TDP showed maturity by simply following the party guidelines with true party spirit. Now they stand as models to the party cadre in respecting leadership’s guidelines, sacrificing their longstanding political career in direct politics.   

The party leadership denied them tickets to contest in the forthcoming elections though they have a strong political track record. But they are showing the true party spirit and working in the political battle for party prospects.

Former Ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Bandaaru Satyanarayana Murthy, Alapati Raja, former MLAs Raavi Venkateswara Rao, Jawahar, Nettem Raghuram and several senior leaders could not get tickets. Indeed, Nettem Raghuram left from the main fray more than a decade ago. But he is also still working for Telugu Desam.

Especially Devineni Umamaheswara Rao established as one of the state-level leaders of Telugu Desam. He entered politics as a successor of the Devineni family in Krishna district. In the past, his cousin Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru) and his brother Devineni Ramana served as cabinet ministers in the TDP.

He was continuously elected four times like his brother Devineni Nehru. Still, he is the only leader to know the whereabouts of the party across the district. Even though he sacrificed his seat for his political rival, he is working for the party. TDP leadership has also appointed him to a state-level post to coordinate overall electioneering works.    

Similarly, Alapati Raja worked for TDP since his student life after the formation of Telugu Desam party. He served in various positions in the party and was also a minister in the State cabinet. He was seriously involved in party activities including NTR’s centenary celebrations. Now he is also working for TDP though he lost Tenali seat for Jana Sena.  

Another senior leader Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy who has been in the TDP since its formation in 1983 did not get a seat this time. He served as minister in the State cabinet and worked as one of the close aides’ of the late party founder NTR. However he expressed his gratitude and said that he would continue in the party until his last breath.

On the other hand, Jawahar who developed in the TDP politics from a school teacher to the cabinet minister also lost the opportunity. Even though he expressed anger about his ticket denial, now he is in a pacified mood. Another former minister of TDP P Sujatha expressed anger at the party leadership about her denial of her ticket but now she is working for the party.

Likewise senior leader Raavi Venkateswara Rao who worked hard for the last five years as the TDP in-charge in the crucial Gudivada seat did not get a chance to contest. Even though he has previous political history now he is supporting TDP’s choice V Ramu, an NRI who entered in election fray almost a year ago.

Similarly, several senior leaders M Geeta, family members of Appalanaidu, Ramesh Reddy, P Ananta Lakshmi and Sugunamma, are continuing party relations by extending support not switching over loyalties to other parties.

Interestingly, former MLA Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy’s seat was allotted to the BJP. However, the BJP leadership offered the ticket to him but still, he expresses his decades-old relationship with the party.