Rajini Faces Setback as Chilakaluripet Chairperson Candidate Joins TDP

Former minister Vidadala Rajini is facing an embarrassing setback in Chilakaluripet politics. While she has been focusing on the controversy surrounding her confrontation with police during the nomination process, a key candidate she backed has reportedly switched sides.

Shaik Karimun, whom Rajini proposed as the YSRCP candidate for the Chilakaluripet municipal chairperson post, has joined the Telugu Desam Party and started campaigning for its candidate. The development has dealt a blow to the YSRCP and raised questions about Rajini’s ability to retain her own candidates’ support.

Rajini had ensured that Karimun filed her nomination and remained in the contest. However, keeping a candidate in the race is one thing; keeping that candidate loyal to the party is another. Karimun’s move to the TDP highlights the challenge facing the YSRCP at the local level.

Meanwhile, Rajini has been receiving visits from senior YSRCP leaders following the police incident. But the latest political development has shifted attention to the party’s ground-level strength.