The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) launched its election campaign office in Vijayawada (West) Assembly constituency on Sunday. Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) and others kick-started the election campaign. TDP sympathisers took out a bike rally in support of Shabana Khatoon, aspirant of Vijayawada (West) ticket. She is the daughter of sitting MLA Jaleel Khan.
Interestingly, Nagul Meera, who has been opposing the claims of Mr. Jaleel Khan that party supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu had cleared the candidature of his daughter, was also present.
Mr. Nani said that the TDP would win all 16 Assembly seats in the district and 159 in the State. Mr. Khan played his role in the development of Vijayawada (West). Many developmental works were taken up during last five years. Durga flyover would be a reailty soon, he said.
Showering praises on Ms. Khatoon, MLC Buddha Venkanna predicted that she would win from the Vijayawada West constituency.
Meanwhile, former Mayor Mallika Begum and her followers staged a protest opposing the candidature of Ms. Khatoon near Imdad Ghar in the city. Ms. Begum alleged that Mr. Khan got ensured that a fatwa was issued by Moulana Qader Rizvi during last elections barring women from entering politics. “How can Mr. Khan’s daughter contest the election?” she asked, adding, the issue would be taken to the notice of Chief Minister.