TDP picks JB Srinivas as convenor for Tirupati constituency

Ending a prolonged wait, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has selected J.B. Srinivas as convenor for the Tirupati Assembly constituency.

The constituency, which elected the party founder NT Rama Rao in his maiden election in 1983, continued to be the TDP’s citadel for 20 years. However, during the last 20 years, and especially after film actor K. Chiranjeevi founded his Praja Rajyam and contested from Tirupati, the TDP found it hard to choose a reliable and formidable candidate and always had to adopt a wait-and-watch policy for this prestigious seat.

Almost after a decade’s gap, the TDP high command has named Mr. Srinivas as the constituency in-charge well in advance, not only giving enough leeway for him to strengthen his ties with the grassroots, but also sending a clear message to the cadre on the prospective candidate for the next elections.

Mr. Srinivas, who belongs to the Balija community, has been a staunch party follower for over 15 years. He is also known for his aggressive stance, which came to the fore during multiple agitations held during the erstwhile YSRCP rule and also ahead of the byelection to the Tirupati LS seat.

Party gets younger in Tirupati

Interestingly, the appointment of 50-year-old Mr. Srinivas helped the TDP get younger in Tirupati district.

The average age of a TDP candidate in the previous decade was above 60 years, with the presence of Galla Arunakumari, Chadalawada Krishnamurthy, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy and Mannuru Sugunamma. In comparison, the present leaders are much younger.

The election of 54-year-old Pulivarthi Nani as Chandragiri MLA, 46-year-old Bojjala Sudheer Reddy as Srikalahasti MLA, 39-year-old Nelavala Vijayasree as Sullurpeta MLA and 50-year-old Gali Bhanuprakash as Nagari MLA clearly indicates a marked shift in age, apparently indicating the mark of the party’s working president Nara Lokesh.

The TDP is also learnt to be nurturing 38-year-old SAAP Chairman A. Ravi Naidu and 43-year-old TUDA Chairman C. Divakar Reddy as future candidates, which could further bring down the average age.