Amidst the evolving political landscape, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is grappling with a challenging scenario surrounding the nomination of V. Varaprasad Rao for the esteemed Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency.
Reports indicate that the party is actively exploring alternative options to address the controversy.
As part of the collaborative arrangement with the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP coalition, the BJP was assigned the parliamentary seat for Tirupati, while the assembly seat was allotted to the Jana Sena.
The selection of Varaprasad Rao as the BJP's candidate for the Tirupati parliamentary seat has sparked controversy within the party. Active RSS and BJP core members have voiced opposition to the decision to field Vara Prasad.
They have alleged that Vara Prasad was involved in anti-Hindu activities during his tenure as MP from 2014 to 2019.
Sources claim that Vara Prasad never visited the Tirumala temple while serving as an MP representing the temple city of Tirupati.
This decision has revived a longstanding dispute dating back to the 2014 general elections when Varaprasad Rao secured victory in the same constituency on a YSRCP ticket, a win challenged by the BJP's Karumanchi Jayaram.
Karumanchi Jayaram's petition alleging religious bias against Varaprasad Rao remained unresolved for five years before being dismissed.
However, with Varaprasad Rao's reemergence as the BJP's nominee for the 2024 general elections, the issue has resurfaced, adding fuel to the existing controversy.
Sources within the BJP have revealed internal dissent over Varaprasad Rao's candidacy. Concerned voices within the party have initiated discussions on identifying a suitable alternative candidate to alleviate the ongoing turmoil.
Potential replacements being considered include former bureaucrat Dasari Srinivasulu and State Secretary S. Muni Subramanyam, among others, according to BJP insiders.
The BJP's deliberations in resolving this internal conflict and selecting a candidate carry significant weight, given the importance of the Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming general elections.
The outcome of this process will be closely monitored as the political landscape continues to evolve.
