Andhra polls: TDP-Janasena announce first list of 99 candidates; Naidu to contest from Kuppam

Amaravati: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu will be contesting from the Kuppam constituency, in the forthcoming assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh.

The TDP-Jana Sena alliance announced their first list of candidates on Saturday, which they believe is an auspicious day. The two leaders, however, said the seat allocation had been done keeping in mind the need to accommodate the BJP in case the saffron party decides to join the alliance.

In a press meeting, Naidu and Pawan Kalyan announced the names of 104 candidates. They include 94 from TDP and 5 from Janasena. “While Janasena will contest 24 seats, TDP will field candidates on the rest. The alliance is for the better future of the state," said Naidu.

"I have thought about all aspects and decided to contest only 24 Assembly seats to get a 95% striking rate and three parliamentary seats. I wanted to keep this alliance strong. The BJP will be accommodated if they decide to join the alliance," said Pawan Kalyan. "It is important to ensure vote transfer between TDP and Janasena for a strong win."

Seat sharing arrangement for the remaining 57 of the 175 Assembly constituencies are expected to be announced soon. Pawan Kalyan is likely to contest from only Bhimavaram Assembly constituency this time.

It may be noted that during 2019 polls, Pawan Kalyan has contested two constituencies – Gajuwaka and Bhimavaram and he has lost in both to candidates from YSR Congress Party. His party was able to win from Razole, making it the only seat it has won in the election.

BTech Ravi to fight against Jagan

This time, Former MLC and the Telugu Desam Party ‘s (TDP) Pulivendula constituency in-charge Mareddy Ravindranath Reddy, popularly known as B. Tech Ravi is contesting from Pulivendula against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In 2019 polls, TDP leader S. V. Satish Kumar Reddy contested and lost to Jagan in Pulivendula.

Btech Ravi got attention in public in 2023 when he went on a heated argument ensued between the police and the TDP cadres in January. Following this, the Vallur police registered a case against Ravi, charging him of attacking the police. After ten months, Ravi was arrested on November 14 and was remanded at Kadapa prison.

At that time, TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, in a statement, alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy was wary of contesting against Ravi from Pulivendula, which is why he was misusing police power to intimidate him

Here is the list:

TDP candidates:

It is pertinent to note that, in the erstwhile Krishna Districts, Yarlagadda Venkata Rao and Kolusu Parathasaradhi who quit YSRCP and joined TDP got seats in TDP- JSP alliance.

Janasena candidates:

Of the 94 TDP candidates, 23 are first-timers and an opportunity has been provided for IAS officers, doctors and graduates.