Srikakulam assembly constituency is once the stronghold of the Telugu Desam Party. Ever since its inception, TDP won five elections on a trot. Dharmana Prasada Rao managed to grab hold of the constituency in 2004.
Except for 2014, Dharmana won all the elections that happened since 2004.
Chandrababu is keen on defeating Dharmana in 2024 but local TDP leaders are doing otherwise. The group fights in the party are becoming a headache for the party here.
Gunda Lakshmi Devi, wife of Appala Suryanarayana, the four-time MLA from TDP is the incharge here. She was also the MLA between 2014 and 2019. The family has good reputation in the constituency.
But there are allegations Lakshmi Devi ignored the party cadre and local leaders after winning as MLA in 2014. They even opposed her candidature for the 2019 elections and she lost the election with a 5K vote difference.
There other leaders have given applications to the party leadership to consider them for ticket in 2024. This has given rise to Group politics in Srikakulam TDP.
District Sarpanches Association President Gondu Shankar is also one of the aspirants. He did a big rally when Chandrababu came to Srikakulam for Idhem Karma Rashtraniki program. He also started a separate party office in the constituency.
He is also operating an Anna canteen for the last few months. Both sides are claiming they will get the ticket for 2024.
As a result, the cadre is also divided and is resorting to Group politics.
Chandrababu should announce the candidate as soon as possible and bring all the groups under one roof or it will be difficult to take on the Dharmana family.
