The former BJP MLA from Visakhapatnam, P Vishnukumar Raju, is making serious efforts to contest the next general election. However, he is not sure if he will get the BJP ticket or win the election, so he is now knocking on the TDP's door.
Raju is eyeing the Visakhapatnam North Assembly constituency from which he won in the 2014 general election in alliance with the TDP and Jana Sena.
In the 2019 general election, he lost the seat with only 18,790 votes polled in his favor, which was just 10.63% of the total votes polled.
As he is making efforts to get into the TDP ahead of the 2024 general election, the TDP leadership has given him the green signal.
However, former minister and sitting MLA from Visakhapatnam North, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, gave him a red signal, as he is planning to seek re-election from this seat in 2024, leaving no chance for Vishnukumar Raju to get the party ticket.
Although the TDP is willing to welcome Raju into the party, the leadership is not ready to give him any assurance regarding the party ticket.
Given the present situation, he may not even get the BJP ticket, as he was recently served with a show-cause notice by the party leadership.
Even if he gets the party ticket, there is no guarantee that he would win the election.
With Ganta's presence in the TDP, Raju has no chance of getting the party ticket. Even if he switches over to the Jana Sena and gets the party ticket in alliance, the TDP is not ready to give up this seat.
As a result, the fate of this leader hangs in the balance, with no scope of contesting and winning the 2024 general election.