The former minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who joined the TDP recently, said that he had got instructions from the party leadership to be ready to file nomination for the Vizag LS seat if the alliance between the TDP and BJP is called off. Ganta Srinivasa Rao said, “The BJP’s candidate selection in Seemandhra is not in the right spirit. I have instructions from the leadership to be ready to file if the alliance is called off. If there is an official announcement on it I will discuss with my supporters, TDP leaders and then take a decision on filing nomination for the Vizag Lok Sabha seat.”
Ganta Srinivas Rao filed nomination for the Bheemili Assembly seat. Though the TDP was ready to spare the Vizag LS seat for the BJP, it changed its stand after YSRCP chief Jagan announced that his mother will be the candidate from his party. Chandrababu Naidu said to have then insisted on getting the Vizag seat for TDP. It was learnt that the TDP was ready to give Kakinada instead of Vizag. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu wanted Vizag seat to give a "strong" candidate as he was worried about the winning chances of the BJP's candidate if Jagan decides to field his mother Vijayamma from Vizag.
CBN is of the opinion that only a strong leader with both cadre base and money bags can face Vijayamma and wanted Ganta Srinivasa Rao to contest from Vizag Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile, BJP state unit chief Kambhampati Hari Babu, filed his nomination for the Vizag Lok Sabha.
