It has been expected that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu would give the party ticket to Magunta Raghava Reddy, son of sitting MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, from Ongole Lok Sabha constituency.
Both father and son resigned from the YSR Congress party recently and defected to the TDP.
Srinivasulu Reddy announced that his son Raghava would contest the Lok Sabha elections from Ongole this time.
However, when Naidu announced the list of 13 MP candidates a couple of days ago, Raghava’s name was missing, though the party leaders were expecting that his name would surely be among the top contenders in the parliamentary elections.
This led to the talk as to whether Naidu is in second thoughts in announcing the name of Raghava in the Lok Sabha elections. Naturally, it evoked a lot of surprise and hush talk within the party.
According to sources, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which joined the TDP-Jana Sena Party alliance a few days ago, has put a condition to Naidu that he should not give the party ticket to Magunta family in the LS polls.
During his last meeting with the Delhi bosses, Union home minister Amit Shah is learnt to have asked Naidu not to entertain the Magunta family, let alone giving the MP ticket for Raghava.
Reason: Srnivasulu Reddy and Raghava are involved in Delhi liquor policy scam and had turned approvers.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested prominent accused in the case – Arvind Kejriwal and Kalvakuntla Kavitha, based on the confession statement given by Raghava.
So, if Raghava is given the TDP ticket, it will give rise to the impression that he was rewarded with the MP seat for turning an approver against Kejriwal and Kavitha.
Though it is the TDP which is giving the ticket, it may send negative signals against the BJP, which is in alliance with the TDP.
In any case, Shah reportedly told Naidu that he doesn’t want to see the liquor case accused in the Parliament, particularly in the NDA. Hence, he asked Naidu not to give the ticket to Raghava.
Maybe, that is the reason why Naidu kept Raghava’s candidature pending in the MP candidates’ list.