Hyderabad, February 10: The Praja Rajyam Party leaders who originally were from the Telugu Desam stock are facing a piquant situation, especially those who fought the 2009 elections on the PRP ticket and lost. Reluctant to take baptism into the Congress after their out and out anti-Congress upbringing in their parent party and also not sure of their future prospects in the Congress, a majority of them are planning to return home and make amends with Chandrababu Naidu.
For those who won the election, there might be future in the Congress. But others feel that no original Congress leader worth his salt will bother about them.
Here is the list of such unfortunate mortals who find themselves at the crossroads, district-wise.
KURNOOL
Srisailam
Budda Seshi Reddy lost the Assembly election for Srisailam to Congress’ Erasu Pratap Reddy. After the loss, he became disillusioned with the PRP itself. He is now wondering whether it will be prudent for him to return to the TDP. “I have not made up my mind yet. But I might go back to the TDP,” he said.
Aluru
Jairam lost the election to Patil Neeraja Reddy (Cong). When he was in the TDP, he was the Chippagiri ZPTC member. He may return to the TDP or take political sanyas. “I will not be in the Congress, for sure,” he said.
Mantralayam
Madhavaram Ramireddy, who was the TDP mandal president, joined the PRP with the hope of winning the election. But he lost to TDP’s Balanagireddy. He is almost on the verge of quitting politics. “I will not join any party. I joined the PRP hoping that Chiranjeevi will bring a welcome change in politics. But he has merged his party with the Congress,” he lamented.
Nandyal
Here the situation is different. AV Subba Reddy, who fought and lost the election to Congress’ Silpa Mohan Reddy, is with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy now. This is because his leader Bhuma Nagireddy is with Jagan. “We will be with Jagan. There is no doubt about it. Chiranjeevi has a wrong notion that social justice is possible in the Congress,” he remarked.
KADAPA
Kadapa Lok Sabha segment
Khaleel Basha, a former TDP MLA, fought on the PRP ticket and lost the election to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Later Basha met Chandrababu Naidu and expressed his desire to return to the TDP but Naidu didn’t entertain his request at that time. A doctor by profession, he is currently busy with his practice. He might now think of returning to the TDP.
Rajampet Assembly
constituency
G Ramaiah, a former TDP MP, contested the Rajampet Assembly seat on the PRP ticket but lost to TDP’s Madanmohan Reddy. Ever since, he has not been very active in public life. He might return
to the TDP.
Railway Koduru
Saraswathamma, the women and child welfare minister in the Chandrababu Naidu’s cabinet, moved to the PRP and contested the seat in 2009 but lost to K Srinivasulu of the Congress. Ever since, she has been inactive and, even in the TDP, no one is interested in her. She might retire from public life.
ANANTAPUR
Singanamala
K Jayaram, an active TDP leader, joined the PRP after Chiranjeevi worked up a wave. After losing the election to minister Shailajanath, he became inactive. He is not seen in the constituency and might have quit politics.
Uravakonda
G Chennakesavulu, an active TDP functionary, joined the PRP but lost the election to TDP’s Payyavula Keshav. Chennakesavulu thinks the Congress is a better place to be in rather than the TDP. “I think I will be OK in the Congress,” he said.
Tadipatri
P Narasaiah was the only TDP man who could face JC Diwakar Reddy. On this consideration, he was taken into the PRP but he lost the election. Afterwards, he switched loyalties to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Raptadu
K Krishna Murthy, who was an important leader of the TDP, contested the election on the PRP ticket and lost against TDP’s P Sunita. After the electoral reverses, he realised his mistake and returned home to the TDP in the presence of Chandrababu Naidu during his recent visit to Anantapur district.
SRIKAKULAM
Amudalavalasa
Former TDP minister Tammineni Sitaram joined the PRP and contested the election but lost against B Satyavathi of the Congress. He returned to the Telugu Desam Party a few months ago.
Etcherla
Former TDP minister and MP K Kalaventaka Rao switched loyalty to Chiranjeevi but lost the election. Congress’ Neelakantam Naidu won the seat. Kalavenkata Rao subsequently returned to the TDP’s fold.
Palakonda
Kalavenkata Rao’s follower Kabhala Jogulu, after losing the election to Congress’ N Sugrivudu, returned to Chandrababu Naidu.
Tekkali
Duvvada Srinivasa Rao, a local TDP leader, contested the election on the PRP ticket but lost against Revathipathy. After the death of Revathipathy, he lost the byelection to Revathipathy’s wife. He is now back in the TDP.
Srikakulam Lok Sabha
segment
V Kalyani, after losing the election to Killi Krupa Rani of the Congress, did not return to the TDP but instead chose YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. She is now with him, taking part in whatever programmes he is coming up with. When in the TDP, she was a mandal president in the district.
VIZIANAGARAM
Kurupam
Former TDP MLA Nimmaka Jayaraju is now considering returning to the TDP. He is weighing the options before him since he does not want to be in the Congress whose candidate Janardhan Thata Raju has won the seat.
VISAKHAPATNAM
Vizag West
A locally strong leader, PVGR Naidu could not win the seat. Malla Vijaya Prasad emerged the victor. Naidu is now wondering whether he should join Jagan Mohan Reddy or return to the TDP.
Narsipatnam
R Yeerrapatridu, an active TDP leader, joined the PRP and contested the election. He lost against B Muthyala Papa. More than the TDP, he is showing interest in joining YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
EAST GODAVARI
Jaggampet
Jyothula Nehru, who was the TDP district president, is now contemplating returning to the TDP, though he has not said so officially. He lost the election to stamps and registrations minister Thota Narasimham. He has not been feeling comfortable in the PRP and now that it has merged with the Congress, he does not want to allow the drift to continue. “I am calling a meeting with workers in my constituency soon and will decide on what I should do,” he said.
Ramachandrapuram
Thota Trimurthulu, who was a TDP MLA twice, joined the PRP when Chiranjeevi’s wave was building up. He lost the election to Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose. He is also planning to come home but does not say so. “I have yet to take any decision. I have to talk to my followers before taking a decision,” he said.
Rampachodavaram
Seetamsetty Venkateswara Rao, a two time TDP MLA, is ruing his decision to join the PRP. He says he will not fit in the Congress. He had denouement that Chiranjeevi is an empty shell and might go back to the TDP.
Mandapeta
VVS Choudary, as a PRP candidate, lost the election to TDP’s V Jogeswara Rao. He was with the TDP for 18 years and now it appears there is no place like home for him.
WEST GODAVARI
Kothapalli Subbarayudu
He was a minister in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet and worked as the district unit president. He may find the going tough if he continues in the Congress. He might return to the TDP.
KRISHNA
Kaikalur
Kamineni Srinivas deserted the Telugu Desam Party when he failed to get the party ticket. He contested the elections in 2009 on a PRP ticket but lost. But he does not want to go back to the TDP. “I will abide by the party president’s decision. I do not think I will have any problem to be in the Congress,” he said.
Gudivada
Ravi Venkateswara Rao, son of former TDP MLA Ravi Sobhanadri Chowdary, left the TDP to join the PRP before the 2009 elections. He contested unsuccessfully as a PRP candidate for the assembly seat. “I am not aware of the merger. I am in Tamil Nadu. I will take a decision after discussing the issue with my followers,” he said. It is not clear whether he will return to the TDP or remain in the Congress.
PRAKASAM
Chirala
Former TDP minister Paleti Rama Rao quit the TDP and contested 2009 elections on a PRP ticket from Chirala unsuccessfully. He is likely to come back to the TDP.
Giddaluru
TDP former MLA Pidatala Saikalpana Reddy left the TDP and joined the PRP in 2009. She contested unsuccessfully the Ongole Parliamentary constituency. She is yet to make up her mind since YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had invited her into his soon-to-be-formed party.
–Agencies