Saripella Rajesh alias Mahasena Rajesh, a Dalit activist known for his vocal and aggressive comments against the upper caste people, on Saturday announced that he was dropping out of the contest from P Gannavaram constituency in Konaseema district.
Rajesh, who was declared the Teludu Desam Party candidate from P Gannavaram, had to face strong protest from various groups including Brahmin associations, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party and even Jana Sena Party workers, for his controversial comments against Brahmins and alleged nasty remarks against women.
Rajesh, who floated a pro-Dalit organisation called Mahasena before 2014, joined the YSR Congress party initially, but came out of the party after 2019. Since then, he has become a bitter critic of the party and Jagan Mohan Reddy, which brought him closer to the TDP.
After the TDP announced ticket for him in the recent list, the YSRC pulled out past videos wherein he made a scathing attack on Naidu and Pawan Kalyan and also his controversial comments against women and Hindu groups.
Jana Sena supporters, too, opposed giving the TDP ticket to Rajesh and demanded that the seat be given to the Jana Sena Party. Apparently sensing that he might face a negative campaign from within the alliance, Rajesh opted out of the contest.
Organisations like VHP and Rama Sena held protest demonstrations against Rajesh in Visakhapatnam and Ambajipeta. Complaints were filed against him in Gokavaram police station. This has prompted him to withdraw from contest.
On Friday, representatives of Brahmin associations raised objections over allotment of TDP ticket for P Gannavaram assembly constituency to controversial person Mahasena Rajesh. They alleged that Rajesh made derogatory comments against Brahmin women.
They pointed out that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who has 40 years political experience, should reconsider the P Gannavaram Assembly constituency ticket.
They stated that if Naidu has respect for Brahmins and Hinduism, he should immediately cancel the ticket allotted to Rajesh and replace it with a worthy candidate among Dalits.
