Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been picking up candidates one after the other for the next elections due in 2024, has finalised cash-rich contractor and industrialist against Y S Avinash Reddy, YSRC candidate for Kadapa Lok Sabha seat.
According to reports, Naidu is learnt to have declared R Srinivasulu Reddy alias Vasu, younger son of former minister late R Rajagopal Reddy, as the TDP candidate for Lok Sabha seat. Vasu had, in fact, contested against Avinash in 2014, but lost the elections.
Vasu, a known building contractor and also an industrialist, had earlier worked as the TDP president of Kadapa district and is presently a politburo member.
His elder brother Ramesh Reddy had earlier contested on TDP ticket from Rayachoty constituency but lost three times.
Vasu’s father Rajagopal Reddy had been an engineer before entering politics in ‘60s and was a six-time MLA from Lakkireddypalli assembly constituency.
He was associated with Congress, Janata Party as well as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and worked as a minister in the cabinets of former Andhra Pradesh chief ministers P V Narasimha Rao and N T Rama Rao.
According to sources, Naidu is of the view that only Vasu has the money power and popular support and can take on the YSRC.
“Since there is a negative talk on Avinash, following the Viveka murder case, Naidu is of the view that Vasu can win the seat with a little more effort,” sources said.