The four retiring Rajya Sabha MPs from Andhra Pradesh include three YSRCP MPs Parimal Nathwani, Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy and Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and TDP MP Sana Sathish Babu. Since NDA had swept the 2024 assembly elections with TDP winning 135, Jana Sena 21 and BJP 8, the ruling coalition is expected to corner all four seats getting vacant. The last date for filing nominations is June 8 and the elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states are slated for June 18, as per the Election Commission schedule.
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According to highly-placed sources, both Jana Sena and BJP have sought one seat each. However, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is likely to keep three seats for his party and assign one to Jana Sena.
A senior party functionary, who did not wish to be identified, told ET, “TDP is unlikely to give a seat to BJP. There were commitments made in the run-up to the assembly elections. For this, it is crucial for TDP to keep three seats.” The final call is yet to be taken by Naidu.
According to sources, Sana Sathish Babu may be renominated. Sana Sathish is a prominent Kapu face within the party and considered close to Naidu’s son and IT minister Nara Lokesh. Naidu is also likely to nominate noted educationist and industrialist Bhashyam Ramkrishna to the Upper House. Jana Sena is likely to nominate industrialist Lingamneni Ramesh, who has been a supporter of deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan from the time of party’s inception.
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Intense lobbying is now on for the fourth seat. According to sources, Naidu family’s trusted lieutenant and party functionary Rajesh Killaru is being considered for nomination. According to sources, the entire nomination exercise will be conducted keeping in mind the caste arithmetic. While Lingamneni is a Kamma, Naidu may opt for a Scheduled Caste or Backward Caste candidate for the fourth seat. Others lobbying for nomination include Andhra Pradesh Speaker Chintakayala Ayyana Patrudu’s son Vijay Chintakayala. Yanamala Ramakrishnudu (who belongs to backward classes), Varla Ramaiah, who belongs to SC community and Devineni Umameshwara Rao, a Kamma.
