It appears Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has started making preparations for the next assembly elections in the state, in the wake of the speculations that the elections might be advanced by at least one year.
The TDP chief is learnt to have begun the exercise for identifying the right candidates for the party to contest the next assembly elections starting from north-coastal districts, according to reports coming out from the party.
Sources said Naidu has focussed on conquering Visakhapatnam district, where it has considerable strength. Though the TDP lost Visakhapatnam parliamentary constituency with a slender margin of over 4,000 votes, the party won four MLAs out of seven assembly segments.
Of course, one of them – Vasupalli Ganesh defected to the TDP, but the party is still strong in the district. This time, the TDP is hoping to win all the seven segments at any cost.
According to reports, Naidu is planning to change M V Bharat, son-in-law of Nandamuri Balakrishna and chairman of Gitam group of institutions, from Visakhapatnam parliamentary constituency and field him from Bhimili assembly constituency.
Sitting MLA from Visakhapatnam (north) Ganta Srinivasa Rao is likely to be shifted to Gajuwaka, as he has earned a lot of goodwill with his fight against privatisation of steel plant. In his place, his nephew will be fielded as the TDP candidate from Visakhapatnam (north).
Former MLA Palla Srinivasulu, who has been made in-charge of Gajuwaka, would be fielded as candidate for Visakhapatnam parliamentary elections.
Though there are reports that Vasupalli Ganesh is contemplating returning to the TDP, Naidu is not interested in taking him back, as he had ditched the party during the crisis period.
The TDP chief is also said to be looking for youngsters to take on the YSRC in other constituencies. He is likely to announce the candidates the moment Jagan makes announcement on the early elections.
