c pradeep kumar
With the 2024 general elections in Andhra Pradesh looming, all eyes are on the hotly contested 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats. Among the key battlegrounds, the Bhimavaram Assembly constituency and Anakapalli Lok Sabha seat stand out.
Sources indicate that Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan is gearing up to contest from the Bhimavaram Assembly segment, while his elder brother and prominent Jana Sena leader, Nagendra Babu (Nagababu), is poised to vie for the Anakapalli parliamentary seat.
Nagababu previously contested the Lok Sabha elections from Narsapuram constituency upon joining the Jana Sena party, securing over 2.50 lakh votes but losing to YSRCP candidate Raghu Rama Krishna Raju. Against this backdrop, Nagababu’s sights are reportedly set on the Anakapalli constituency this time around.
However, tension within the Jana Sena Party is palpable as former minister Konathala Ramakrishna, a recent addition to the party, also eyes the Anakapalli Lok Sabha seat. Ramakrishna boasts of previous stints representing the Lok Sabha seat, adding an intriguing dynamic to the upcoming elections.
While Nagababu engages with party leaders in the district to bolster his electoral prospects, Ramakrishna’s absence from party meetings for nearly a month fuels speculation. Hailing from the BC Gavara community, which holds sway in the Anakapalli constituency, Ramakrishna’s potential candidacy underscores his significance in the electoral calculus.
Recognising Ramakrishna’s electoral potential, Pawan Kalyan personally visited his residence on Sunday to mend fences and placate any discord. The impending announcement of candidates for the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, particularly within the TDP-Jana Sena combine, adds further intrigue.
As per the seat-sharing arrangement, the Jana Sena party is reportedly slated to secure Anakapalli, Kakinada, and Machilipatnam seats. Additionally, Pawan Kalyan’s party has laid claim to Assembly seats such as Pendurthi and Bheemili. The resolution of these demands will be pivotal in averting discontent within the party’s ranks and maintaining cohesion ahead of the elections.
