A striking feature of the elections in Andhra Pradesh appears to be the coming-of-age of kin of political bigwigs cutting across party lines, who are ready to make a splash and set to have a greater say in the party affairs.
Late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who had launched the YSR Congress following differences with Congress, is spearheading the campaign for his party, a major force in Seemandhra.
The name of his sister Sharmila, who undertook a state-wide ‘padayatra’ when Jaganmohan Reddy was in jail, is doing the rounds as a possible candidate from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat.
Another prominent kin fighting the polls is TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K T Rama Rao, besides daughter Kavitha. Rama Rao has been an MLA and is now seeking re-election from Sircilla in Karimnagar district, while his sister is the nominee for Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat.
Chandrasekhar Rao’s nephew T Harish Rao has also been a MLA and would contest again from Siddipet in Medak district.
TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu’s son Lokesh, who has been a backroom boy and was seen to be a strategist for the party from behind the scenes, is likely to hit the campaign trail for the party soon.
Union Minister Chiranjeevi’s youngest brother Pavan Kalyan has launched the Jana Sena Party just ahead of elections endorsing the candidature of Narendra Modi for Prime Ministership but is staying away from contest.
Former Andhra Pradesh Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana, also an ex-minister, has been a senior leader from north coastal Andhra, while his wife Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi is a member of outgoing Lok Sabha. His brother is a member of outgoing AP Assembly.
All of them are likely to contest again.
Former minister P Sabita Reddy’s son P Karthik Reddy is the Congress candidate from Chevella Lok Sabha seat, but his mother is not contesting the polls.
Former minister and senior Congress leader Devineni Rajasekhar’s son Avinash is likely to be the party candidate from Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency.