Veteran Telugu Desam Party leader and former minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who will be stepping down from the Andhra Pradesh state legislative council membership on March 29, is now at the crossroads of his political career.
Considered to be a loyalist of TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Yanamala played a key role in Naidu dethroning his father-in-law N T Rama Rao and becoming the chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh after the infamous August coup in 1995.
Since then, Yanamala held key positions both in the party as well as the government whenever Naidu became the chief minister. He is currently the TDP politburo member and is an outgoing MLC.
Not just that, three other members of Yanamala family are currently holding important positions.
His daughter Yanamala Divya is the Tuni MLA, his son-in-law Putta Mahesh Yadav is the Eluru Lok Sabha member and his brother- in-law Putta Sudhakar Yadav is Maidukuru MLA.
Yet, Yanamala is not happy for not being given any position.
He is seriously lobbying for the Rajya Sabha nomination from the TDP in 2026. After the MLC election results on Thursday, Yanamala said if the party offers him an opportunity in the future, he will consider going to the Rajya Sabha.
“Otherwise, I will opt for a retired life. This has been my response to all my close associates and well-wishers who are asking me about my future plans, as my term as an MLC is coming to an end,” he said.
Yanamala said on the day the TDP announced candidates for the MLC seats under the MLAs’ quota, Naidu personally spoke to him over the phone and informed him about the selected candidates.
“I welcomed the decision and expressed my gratitude to Naidu for giving him the opportunity to serve as an MLC twice,” he said.
Reflecting on his long association with the party, Yanamala said he had been serving TDP since its inception.
He further commented that politics have become increasingly expensive in the present times, which, in his view, is not a positive development for democracy.
