CPI Gunning for Vijayawada LS Seat

By M H Ahssan

In a move that could surprise even its main rival Congress, the CPI is reportedly lobbying for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat with its new ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

The CPI, which has a strong base in the city, is not willing to leave the opportunity this time round as a win in the heart of the Coastal Andhra region would help the party restore past glory, aver sources. Sources said the CPI’s move is likely to relieve many of the TDP leaders in the constituency as none of them is ready to contest the LS elections due to infighting within the party. “The TDP would be more than happy to allocate the Vijayawada LS seat if the CPI is really serious about it,” confirmed a senior TDP leader. TDP’s candidate in the last elections, film producer C Aswani Dutt, who was never seen in the constituency after his defeat in the 2004 elections, is unlikely to return, a source said.

Political observers said the CPI’s confidence stems from the fact that it had held the city mayoral post thrice in the past. Also, the party has been coming up trumps in the Vijayawada (West) Assembly segment. “It is but natural that the CPI would like to have its own candidate from the key seat in the 2009 elections,” an observer said.

Curiously, TDP urban unit convenor Gadde Rammohan, who was once considered as giant killer after defeating the ex-Congress’ stalwart P Upendra, had openly expressed his unwillingness to contest the LS election. “The urban
unit is no one’s child as the leaders are engaged in quarrelling among themselves. Party chief Chandrababu Naidu’s repeated warnings have failed to put the house in order,” admitted a senior leader.

Even before the trouble between party’s west incharge Budha Venkanna and another leader Katragadda Babu subsided, the SC leaders have revolted against the urban party leadership demanding a sizeable share in the tickets. When two groups in Gannavaram started warring with each other, Rammohan left it to the high command to solve the issue.

The party has also failed to stop the only minority leader Jaleel Khan, who has a sizeable following in the district, when he left the party to join the Congress.