There are reports from New Delhi that the Election Commission of India might announce anytime the by-elections to the three Rajya Sabha vacancies from Andhra Pradesh, arising out of the resignation of sitting members of YSR Congress party – Mopidevi Venkataramana, Beeda Mastan Rao and R Krishnaiah.
There are indications that yet another YSRCP member of Rajya Sabha might also call it quits from the seat and the party shortly, In all probability, a notification might be issued in the third week of October, reports said.
This has resulted in hectic deliberations within the ruling Telugu Desam Party in the state. Sources said TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has promised to allocate one of the vacant Rajya Sabha seats to Jana Sena Party led by deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan.
The TDP has almost zeroed in on former Guntur MP and industrialist Galla Jayadev for one of the two seats it would get.
For the other seat, Naidu is said to be considering the names of veteran leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju or Kambhapati Rammohan Rao or Kanakamedala Ravindranath.
“However, if Jayadev’s name is confirmed for the first seat, Naidu may not prefer another Kamma leader for the second seat. In such case, it might be given to Ashok Gajapathi Raju or a BC leader,” he said.
For the seat offered to Jana Sena Party, the name of Pawan Kalyan’s brother Nagababu’s name is being talked about. During the recent elections, Nagababu sacrificed his Anakapalli seat to C M Ramesh of BJP as part of alliance.
His name was also proposed for the TTD chief post, but the TDP chief told Pawan Kalyan that he had other plans. So, if the Rajya Sabha seat is given to the Jana Sena, it would be given to Nagababu, sources said.
If the fourth YSRCP member also quits Rajya Sabha, then Naidu might choose a prominent leader from Scheduled Castes as the replacement, sources added.