Maverick former Narasapuram MP Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju, who won the state assembly elections from Undi constituency in West Godavari district on Telugu Desam Party ticket, is a disappointed man, as he failed to get any responsible position in the newly-formed state government.
Raju has been considering him as a tall leader in Andhra politics. He was expecting that he would get a prominent position in the Chandrababu Naidu government – a cabinet berth with an important portfolio like Home.
He thought Naidu would definitely acknowledge his, because of his nation-wide recognition as a rebel against YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy when the latter was the chief minister.
But when his name did not figure in the list of cabinet ministers, Raju was disappointed.
He was apparently carried away by the speculations in the media that he would be considered for the assembly speaker post.
Raju was hoping for the post, as he thought it would be a big opportunity for him to take revenge on Jagan by controlling the latter’s mike in the assembly. Because of his loud-mouth nature, he thought he could as well shout down the opposition MLAs.
But to his chagrin, Naidu preferred former minister Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu from Narsipatnam constituency and a prominent OBC leader from north-Andhra, as the Speaker. He is a seven-time MLA and has been there right from the inception of the TDP in 1982.
Though his name was considered for a cabinet berth, Naidu could not give him a chance because of regional and caste equations. So, he decided to nominate him for the Speaker’s post.
“Being a senior leader with a thorough understanding of the legislative practices, Ayyanna is the right choice for the post, compared to Raju, who is a first time MLA. Moreover, Ayyanna is also known for his loud-mouth and he, too, is waiting to take revenge against the YSRCP,” sources said.
Raju might not also get the deputy speaker post, as it has been promised to be given to a Jana Sena leader.
In all probability, it might be given to Mandali Buddha Prasad or Lokam Madhavi, sources added.