Even as Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is doing elaborate exercise on filling up of nominated posts in the second phase, there are reports that his alliance partners are asking for an increased share in the posts.
As per the original understanding among the NDA partners, the TDP will retain 80 percent of the nominated posts, leaving the remaining 20 percent to Jana Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Accordingly, Naidu followed this ration, while filling up 86 nominated posts in the first phase in September. Among 20 corporation chairpersons, the TDP retained 16, while Jana Sena got three and the BJP just one corporation.
However, as Naidu is getting ready to announce the nominated bodies in the second phase, he is said to be under tremendous pressure from his alliance partners for giving them a bigger share, instead of just 20 percent.
While there has not been much demand from the BJP, the Jana Sena Party leaders are mounting pressure on Naidu through Pawan Kalyan for more nominated posts as there is a growing disgruntlement among the party leaders at the grassroots level.
According to sources, there are around 150 various corporation chairperson posts, besides 1600 director and member posts, including in various temple committees.
Going by the original formula, the alliance partners will not get more than 30 corporation chairperson posts and 320 director/member posts.
Sources said Jana Sena itself is asking for 40-50 corporation chairperson posts, keeping Naidu on tenterhooks. It is learnt Pawan Kalyan has already submitted the list of the aspirants for the nominated posts to Naidu.
At the same time, there is also massive pressure from the TDP leaders at various levels, asking for nominated posts. Apparently, the party has received more than 30,000 applications from the leaders asking for various posts.
Sources said while Naidu might stick to the 80:20 formula for the state-level posts, he might accommodate more Jana Sena and BJP leaders in the district-level nominated posts.
It remains to be seen how the alliance partners would respond to Naidu’s proposal.
