The TDP-Jana Sena alliance has witnessed unexpected developments in candidate selection for the Andhra Pradesh municipal elections. B-form allocations in Madakasira and seat-sharing decisions in Salur have left some aspirants disappointed despite their preparations to contest.
In Madakasira municipality of Sri Sathya Sai district, Jana Sena aspirant S.E. Srinivasulu faced objections over errors in his nomination papers. Election officials initially rejected his nomination, prompting party representatives and legal advisers to seek reconsideration.
However, Srinivasulu ultimately failed to secure the Jana Sena B-form. The party instead selected Sharadamma, wife of advocate G. Radhakrishna and sister-in-law of former TDP MLC Gundumala Thippeswamy.
Sharadamma had recently joined Jana Sena and received the party’s B-form for the municipal chairperson contest. Her selection was reported on October 21, marking a change from the party’s earlier candidate choice.
A separate development unfolded in Salur municipality of Parvathipuram Manyam district. Former TDP councillor Vaikuntapu Harshavardhan had been interested in contesting the municipal chairperson election, but the position was reserved for a Backward Classes woman.
Harshavardhan married his longtime partner, Gulla Manjeera, shortly after the reservation announcement. The timing sparked speculation that the wedding was connected to plans to field her for the chairperson position, although that motive has not been independently established.
However, the alliance subsequently allotted the Salur municipal chairperson seat to Jana Sena, leaving Harshavardhan without the TDP candidature he had sought.
According to the supplied local account, Manjeera has entered the contest as an independent candidate. Her nomination status has not yet been independently confirmed.
The developments in Madakasira and Salur illustrate how nomination scrutiny, party authorisation and alliance seat-sharing decisions can change the plans of local aspirants even after they begin preparing for elections.
