Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and Payyavula Keshav appear to be favourites

Hyderabad: Hectic lobbying began in Telugu Desam Party with several senior leaders vying with new comers to secure MLC tickets under MLA quota. They are making every effort to catch the attention of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.The competition became intense among the party workers for there are five seats, which Andhra Pradesh got after bifurcation. Out of the five MLC seats for which elections are to be held, two would go to the YSRCP on the basis of its strength in the Assembly while TDP would get three seats.Following this senior TDP leader and former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy from Nellore and former MLA from Uravakonda from Anantapur district Payyavula Keshav are reportedly the favourites. According to party insiders, the Chief Minister is in their favour.

Senior leader from Chittoor and former MLA Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu and Silpa Mohan Reddy who had lost the assembly elections from the Nandyala assembly constituency from Kurnool district were also trying their luck to get into the cabinet, via the council route.Meanwhile, rumours doing rounds in the party indicate that the Communications Advisor to the Government, Parakala Prabhakar, too is trying hard seeking a bigger role for himself. Parakala is understood to have stepped up his efforts for the last one month. Among other aspirants are Nannapaneni Rajakumari who would be retiring now and TNSF president N Brahmam Chowdary were also trying their luck.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is understood to have told the rank and file to see that party candidates for MLC elections for teachers’ constituency scheduled in East and West Godavari and Krishna and Guntur districts win the polls. He asked the Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu, Labour Minister K Achhannaidu to go to Rajahmundry and Guntur, and Municipal Minister P Narayana, Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao and Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, to focus on Krishna and Guntur districts, meet the teachers and ensure the party candidates win the election.