Bringing curtains down on suspense over the list of candidates for the general elections, TDP National president and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu released the first list of candidates on Thursday.
Retaining the majority of the sitting MLAs, Mr. Naidu announced the names for 126 of the 175 Assembly constituencies.
Mr. Naidu would contest from Kuppam and his son and party national general secretary Nara Lokesh from Mangalagiri. Nandamuri Balakrishna, brother-in-law of Mr. Naidu, was renominated from Hindupur.
Ministers such as Kalava Srinivasulu, Sidda Raghava Rao and Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, who were not sure of being renominated from their constituencies, got a relief. Mr. Raghava Rao was asked to contest from Ongole Lok Sabha while Mr. Srinivasa Rao from Anakapalle Lok Sabha.
The name of Paritala Sriram, son of Women and Child Welfare Minister Paritala Sunitha, did figure in the first list. He would be contesting from the Raptadu constituency.
Names of MLAs V. Prabhakar Chowdary (Anantapur), Vangalapudi Anita (Payakaraopet) and KS Jawahar (Kovvur), who were facing stiff opposition within the party, were cleared. While Ms. Anita would contest from Kovvur, Mr. Jawahar would contest from Tiruvur. Dr. Rao would contest from Sattenapalli.
Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurthy was successful in getting tickets for his son KE Syam Babu and brother KE Prathap. JC Diwakar Reddy’s son JC Pawan Reddy would contest from Anantapur Lok Sabha.
Agriculture Minister Somireddi Chandramohan Reddy, who resigned his MLC post, would contest from Sarvepalli and Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana from Nellore city.
Target 150: Naidu
Mr. Naidu said the mission was to win at least 150 seats and the candidates had been selected after consulting the leaders. He said the onus was on party workers to achieve the goal.