Babu Ready With First List?

The wait for the TDP’s first list of candidates is likely to end within a week. Party supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu has almost completed finalizing the first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to sources, numerous surveys were done in various methods to finalise the list of candidates. Apart from the IVRS survey and other techniques, a personal team deputed by the TDP boss also plunged into action to get a ground report of the aspirants. Naidu would take a final decision after considering the reports of all the surveys and decide basing on the positive response from the public.

It is learnt that the TDP first list will have names of 50 candidates. Obviously, the TDP list would automatically also reveal the candidature of the Jana Sena leaders too as both the parties are going together for the polls.

There is buzz that some sitting TDP MLAs might also find place in the list. However, there is uncertainty over the Rajahmundry Rural seat. It is being said that the seat would be allocated to the JS, as part of the alliance.

While Gorantla Bucchaiah is the TDP candidate from the constituency, Kandula Durgesh is also actively campaigning in the place, indirectly indicating that the seat would fall into the JS kitty. There is talk that the TDP chief had asked the survey agencies to submit reports about the Jana Sena prospects too from the constituencies which would be allocated to the latter.

Though there is no official announcement about the number of seats to be shared by both the parties, the leaders are believed to have reached a consensus about the same during their one-on-one meetings.

The TDP had already declared candidates from Araku and Mandapeta constituencies.

Naidu is of the opinion to release the list at the earliest as it would give sufficient time to the candidates to campaign and also to revise the list, if needed. Caste equations, financial stability and track record of the candidates, support from the cadre in the party are a few of the factors taken into consideration and surveyed for selecting the candidates.

It has to be seen how would the TDP first list take shape and who would find place in it.