TDP to leave Rajampet for Jana Sena?

Highly placed sources reveal that the TDP and Jana Sena have already reached an agreement over Rajampet assembly constituency. The sources point out that the Jana Sena has always been insisting on Rajampet and both Chandrababu and Pawan Kalyan, who met on Sunday to finalise the seat-sharing, have broadly agreed on leaving Rajampet for the Jana Sena.

While this news is a major disappointment for the TDP ticket aspirants from Rajampet, this arrangement could mutually benefit the TDP and the Jana Sena.

Rajampet has a high concentration of the Balija vote, which is considered the bulwark of the Jana Sena. The Balijas are in considerable numbers in neighbouring Railway Koduru and other constituencies.

By leaving this seat to the Jana Sena, which is Balija dominated, the TDP is hoping to get en masse Balija vote in neighbouring constituencies. Thus it is a win-win for both, say TDP strategists.

Jana Sena leader Yallaturi Srinivasa Raju, who joined the party recently, has been working hard to make inroads into the constituency. He has already taken up several outreach programmes in the constituency. Though TDP leaders like Chengal Rayudu and Narahari are also aspiring for the Rajampet seat, they may be asked to stand down in favour of Yallaturi.

The Jana Sena is confident that Yallaturi would be the common candidate from Rajampet.

Meanwhile, it is reliably learnt that the Jana Sena has been demanding 32 assembly seats for itself. This issue had come up between Chandrababu and Pawan Kalyan during their meeting on Sunday.

As of now, broad agreement has reportedly been reached for about 20 seats and Rajampet is said to be one among the 20 seats. It remains to be seen what would happen in case of other seats.