MLC ticket race heats up in ruling NDA ahead of biennial elections

Vijayawada:The race for MLC tickets is intensifying within the ruling NDA as the Election Commission (EC) is set to release the notification for the biennial elections for five seats from the MLA quota in the upper House on Monday. March 10 is the last date for filing nominations, and polling will take place on March 17 if necessary. With the TDP-led NDA holding a complete majority in the assembly, the alliance partners are likely to secure all the seats uncontested.
Jana Sena chief and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan's brother, Nagababu, is expected to enter the council, as chief minister Chandrababu Naidu had announced his possible induction into the cabinet nearly two months ago. Initially considered for a Rajya Sabha seat, Nagababu had to wait for his turn to enter the legislative council after the TDP secured two of the three Rajya Sabha seats vacated by YSRCP members' resignations.
Sources say that BJP leadership is also lobbying for one of the five MLC seats. Senior BJP leaders, including PVN Madhav (North Coastal AP), Somu Veerraju (Central Coastal), and Vishnuvardhan Reddy (Rayalaseema), who were unable to contest the assembly elections, are reportedly urging party central leaders to refer them to the council. While Madhav and Veerraju have served as MLCs in the past, Vishnuvardhan Reddy is still awaiting an opportunity to enter the legislature.
Given the intense competition within the TDP for MLC tickets, party chief and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu is reportedly considering requesting the BJP leadership to forgo one of the MLC seats, since they already sacrificed one Rajya Sabha seat during the first term. Naidu aims to secure all five MLC seats for TDP leaders, with a promise to allocate one seat to BJP during the next term. In fact, the resignations of three YSRCP MLCs are pending with the council chairman for acceptance, and by-elections are expected once the chairman clears them. If the BJP leadership agrees, TDP will take all four seats.
Sources suggest that the TDP leadership will prioritize those who sacrificed their seats for alliance partners. Names being discussed within the party include TDP in-charge from Pithapuram, SVN Varma, Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, former MP Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, former ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Damacharla Satyanarayana, and Peela Govinda Satyanarayana.
However, Varma's prospects depend on the backing of deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, as Varma is known for making controversial remarks against Jana Sena cadres. Naidu will select candidates based on factors such as caste, region and loyalty. Sources indicated that the party's general secretary and HRD minister Lokesh has already completed an evaluation and is expected to submit a report to Naidu for the final decision.