Amaravati:Ā Amid protests and tension in the ruling Telugu Desam Party, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDPĀ chief NĀ Chandrababu Naidu released the first list of 126 candidates for the upcoming elections last night.
At a press conference last night, Naidu announced the list, which also figured his and his son Nara Lokesh‘s name. The party aimed at winning 150 of 170 seats and so Naidu called it ‘Mission 150 Plus’. The first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha election, which is scheduled simultaneously on 11 April, would be announced today said Naidu.
Speaking at the event, Naidu said, “We have balanced various equations and selected the candidates. It is now up to the people to bless these candidates as I take the responsibility of their future in my hands,”
He also released the audio song for his party’s campaign at the event.Ā On 16 March, campaign of TDP would begin from Srikakulam district after the CM worships Tirupati Lord Venkateswara.
The TDP re-nominated Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao from Sattenapalli constituency in Guntur district. Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy and Women Welfare Minister Paritala Sunitha opted out of the contest this time giving way to their sons.
Naidu’s son Lokesh too will be fighting his first electoral battle from Mangalagiri constituency in the Amravati capital region. Like his father, Lokesh chose a constituency that has a predominant backward class population. Naidu will be contesting the assembly election for the seventh time from Kuppam in his native Chittoor district.
Meanwhile, in a new turn of events, former Union minister Panabaka Lakshmi and her husband Krishnaiah, who were in Congress so far,Ā joined the TDP late last night.