Even as the excitement from the recent assembly and parliament elections subsides, Andhra Pradesh gears up for another round of voting. This time, it’s for the vacant posts in the legislative council caused by the defection of two former YSRCP MLCs to TDP, which led to their disqualification.
According to rules, these vacant MLC posts must be filled within three months of disqualification. With two months already passed, the election commission is expected to announce the notification soon. The NDA alliance, led by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is likely to secure these MLC seats as they hold a significant majority in the legislative assembly.
There’s speculation about who might fill these seats. SVSN Varma, former MLA of Pithapuram who backed Janasena’s Pawan Kalyan in the recent elections, is a frontrunner for one MLC seat. It’s believed that Chandrababu Naidu may have assured Varma this position to maintain party harmony after Varma supported Kalyan. Party insiders expect Varma to be rewarded for his efforts in securing Kalyan’s victory.
Konidela Naga Babu, brother of Pawan Kalyan, is also in contention for an MLC seat. Initially set to contest for Anakapalle MP, Naga Babu was sidelined due to seat sharing issues with BJP. His loyalty to Janasena during tough times might earn him the MLC ticket as a gesture of appreciation.
Additionally, TDP leaders like Devineni Uma and Alapati Raja, who defected from YSRCP before the elections, are also vying for these MLC positions. As of now, the final decision on who will fill these vacancies remains uncertain.