Obviously disappointed with Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu for denying him the party ticket from Mylavaram, former minister and senior TDP leader Devineni Umamaheshwar Rao is understood to have decided to contest the assembly elections as a rebel.
Soon after TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu released the third list of 11 candidates for the assembly polls, declaring defected MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad as the party candidate for Mylavaram, Devineni went incommunicado.
Though Naidu has been telling him that he might not get the party ticket for Mylavaram, Uma was expecting that his name would be considered at least for Penamaluru.
But Naidu had to succumb to the pressure tactics of former MLA Bode Prasad and name him as the party candidate.
Though Uma announced that he would abide by any decision taken by Naidu, sources in the TDP say that he is against Krishna Prasad joining the party.
Peeved at the party decision, Devineni Uma is learnt to have decided to go into the people directly as the rebel candidate.
He told his followers that he would still carry the pictures of Naidu and also party founder N T Rama Rao during his campaign.
He reportedly declared that he would kickstart his campaign by reaching out to the voters from Jakkampudi Colony in Mylavaram later in the day.
However, Vasantha Krishna Prasad expressed confidence that Devineni Uma would cooperate with him.
“I don’t have anything personal against any leader. I shall definitely take Uma into confidence and go ahead in the campaign. I am confident of getting support from all the TDP leaders and cadre in the constituency,” Vasantha said.