Tammineni Sitaram to be Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker

AMARAVATI: Senior legislator and former minister Tammineni Sitaram will be the next speaker of AP assembly.
Chief minister YS Jagan has finalized Sitaram for the top post in the assembly after consultations with the senior leaders. Sitaram met the chief minister Jagan after the legislature party meeting on Friday and held discussions. Sources said that chief minister communicated his decision to the senior leader and requested him to accept the position. AP assembly will elect the new speaker on June, 13.
Sitaram is a five-time legislator from Amudalavalasa constituency in Srikakulam district. He was first elected as MLA in 1983 when TDP was founded. After winning his second stint in 1985, Sitaram lost 1989 election. He, however, jumped back to winning streak as he won two back to back elections in 1994 and 1999.
Sitaram served as minister for several years in Chandrababu Naidu. After losing 2004 elections, Sitaram joined PRP. He, however, lost another election on PRP ticket in 2009. Sitaram then switched over to YSRCP but had to face another defeat in 2014. YSRCP chief reposed faith in Sitaram in spite of losing three successive elections and fielded him as party candidate from Amudalavalasa in 2019 elections in which Sitaram roped home with a victory.
Taking his experience in handling the legislative affairs into consideration, Jagan picked him up for the speaker’s post.
Sources said that ST legislator Pidika Rajanna Dora has been picked up for deputy speaker slot. CM had also communicated Rajanna Dora about his decision and urged him to cooperate. Rajanna Dora is a three-time legislator from Salur in Vizianagaram district. He won the first election in 2009 on Congress ticket and 2014 and 2019 elections as YSRCP nominee.