With Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu deciding to appoint Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu as the State Assembly Speaker, it was expected that the Deputy Speaker post would be given to the TDP’s alliance partner—the Jana Sena Party, headed by power star Pawan Kalyan.
The Jana Sena Party leaders had already proposed the names of Lokam Madhavi from Nellimarla, Mandali Buddha Prasad from Avanigadda, or Pantham Nanaji from Kakinada (Rural) for the position. The final decision on the nomination was left to Pawan Kalyan.
The issue was discussed between Pawan Kalyan and Naidu during their meeting at the state secretariat on Tuesday.
Naidu unexpectedly brought up that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which received only one cabinet berth, was also requesting the Deputy Speaker post.
Pawan Kalyan agreed with Naidu and stated that he had no objection if the Deputy Speaker post was given to the BJP. They then deliberated on potential candidates for the position.
Since the Rajus did not receive any representation in the state cabinet, Naidu suggested BJP member P Vishnu Kumar Raju for the post. However, Pawan pointed out that both Vishnu Kumar Raju and Ayyanna Patrudu are from the same district.
In light of this, the post might be offered to other BJP members such as Sujana Chowdary, Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy, or N Eshwar Rao.
It remains to be seen who will ultimately be appointed as the Deputy Speaker.