After announcing the candidates for Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh in several phases over a period of two months, YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy released the final list of candidates for all the 175 assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats on March 16, before embarking on the bus yatra across the state.
He declared that he had made changes in 82 assembly seats and around 15 parliament seats to see that only candidates with the bright chances of winning have been selected.
But there are reports in a section of media in the last two days that Jagan is contemplating making changes in some more key constituencies, especially in the places where the National Democratic Alliance partners - Telugu Desam Party, Jana Sena Party and Bharatiya Janata Party have fielded their candidates.
Apparently, Jagan got the surveys done in the recent past on the prospects of the candidates and found that some of the candidates do not stand much chances of winning, especially in Guntur and West Godavari districts.
Sources said there could be changes in some of the seats in these districts in a day or two. Jagan also got the survey done on who would be the better choices for these seats.
“The changes may be made only after discussing with the candidates who are already in fray and those who are found suitable,” sources said.
However, the changes might not be very drastic.
“At the most, Jagan might change three or four candidates in these districts,” sources said.
On the other hand, the NDA allies, too, might do some reshuffling of candidates in some constituencies, particularly in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, twin Godavari districts and Anantapur.
“Many BJP and Jana Sena Party candidates in these districts are weak and are banking only on Pawan Kalyan charisma and TDP strength. In their places, the allies might announce new candidates,” sources said.
