Former Narasapuram MP Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishna Raju is suspecting that he could not get the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket for the upcoming elections because of the sabotage done by former state BJP president Somu Veerraju.
Raju went to the extent of alleging that Veerraju had sabotaged his chances in collusion with YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, thereby creating the impression that Jagan is influencing the selection of BJP candidates and that Bhupatiraju Srinvasa Varma, who was given the BJP ticket for Narasapuram could also be a mole of Jagan.
Now, there are latest allegations that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu is stonewalling the chances of Veerraju in the coming elections, in collusion with his sister-in-law and state BJP president Daggubati Purandeshwari.
In fact, it was Somu Veerraju who had strongly lobbied for the BJP ticket for Rajahmundry Lok Sabha seat till the last moment, but Purandeshwari managed to get it allocated to her. Having no other option, Veerraju is now trying for the assembly seat.
According to latest reports, the BJP is asking for Anaparthi assembly segment under Rajahmundry Lok Sabha constiteuncy from the TDP, in lieu of other seat. If the TDP concedes the seat, the BJP national leadership is planning to allocate it to Somu Veerraju.
But both Naidu and Purandeshwari have reportedly objected to it. Apparently, Purandeshwari told the party high command that if Veerraju is given the ticket for Anaparthi assembly seat, it would be difficult for her to win the Rajahmundry Lok Sabha seat.
Naidu, too, has reportedly opposed giving Anaparthi seat to Veerraju, as the local TDP leaders are opposing him. He said he would agree for giving the Anaparthi seat to the BJP only if some other candidate is proposed.
On the whole, Veerraju is facing the same situation as that of Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, say sources.