With the Election Commission of India announcing the schedule for the conduct of biennial elections to Rajya Sabha, intense lobbying has begun for the nominations in the ruling YSR Congress party.
The YSRC can bag all the four vacancies for RS seats from Andhra Pradesh, as the Telugu Desam Party has no strength at all to win even a single seat.
The seats are falling vacant due to the completion of term of sitting MPs – K Kesava Rao, T Subbarami Reddy, M A Khan and T Sita Ramalakshmi.
According to sources, at least a dozen leaders are said to be in the race for the four Rajya Sabha seats from the state.
While Jagan is learnt to have promised RS seats to a couple of leaders, no final decision has been taken yet, but one thing is certain that loyalty to the party would be the single criterion for deciding the candidates.
It is learnt founder-chairman of Ramky Group of Industries and prominent party leader Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy is most likely to get the RS nomination.
Another industrialist-turned-politician Beeda Mastan Rao is also learnt to have been given the promise for RS seat.
Former Amalapuram MP Pandu Ravindra Babu, who defected from the TDP to YSRC before the elections, might also be considered for the RS seat under SC quota. If not him, the chance might go to an SC woman, sources said.
There is a talk that Jagan might nominate his sister Sharmila to Rajya Sabha, but there is no confirmation yet. Even if Jagan takes a decision in this regard, he would keep it a secret till the last moment, sources said.
Among other aspirants for the RS seats are: Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Y V Subba Reddy, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Mopidevi Venkataramana.
A decision would be taken only after March 6, when the nomination process starts, sources said.