Environment Minister Sidda Raghava Rao filed his nomination papers for the Ongole Lok Sabha seat before the district Collector and Returning Officer V. Vinay Chand on Thursday.

Followed by thousands of party workers, who descended on the city from across Prakasam district, Mr. Raghava Rao, accompanied by his wife Lakshmi Padmavathi, went in a procession and filed one set of nomination papers. Ms. Padmavathi filed another set of papers on Mr. Rao’s behalf.

Meanwhile, YSRCP nominee Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy’s follower Aiyana Bathina Ganashyam filed one set of nomination papers on behalf of Mr. Reddy.

Development and welfare initiatives of the TDP government would ensure victory for the party nominees at the hustings, Mr. Raghava Rao said while addressing the media along with party district president Damacharla Janardhana Rao.

People should strengthen the hands of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu by electing 150-plus TDP candidates as MLAs and 23 party candidates as MPs for unhindered growth of the State, he added.