Narasapuram MP Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishna Raju has been claiming to be the only leader putting up a brave fight against YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy; and so, he thinks the people would acknowledge him as a big fighter.
But the fact of the matter is that nobody is taking him seriously, even the opposition parties – Telugu Desam Party, Jana Sena Party or the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In fact, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu seems to the only person who has a soft corner towards Raghu Rama Raju.
He made his best efforts to see that Raju would get the nomination again from Narasapuram Lok Sabha seat, but since the seat was given to the BJP, which fielded its senior leader Bhupati Srinivasa Varma, Raghu Rama Raju stood no chance.
Having no other option, Raghu Rama Raju brought pressure on Naidu to allot him at least the state assembly seat and the TDP chief agreed to consider his nomination from Undi assembly seat represented by sitting TDP MLA Manthena Venkata Rama Raju.
After getting the assurance for Undi seat, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju formally joined the TDP at a public rally of Naidu in Narasapuram.
He even claimed that local MLA Rama Raju has agreed to support him and Naidu would take care of his political interests after coming to power.
But, latest reports indicate that Raghu Rama Raju is facing stiff resistance from the TDP cadres in Undi and nobody is interested in supporting him.
Adding to this, sitting MLA Rama Raju also declared that he would contest as an independent candidate from Undi, if Raghu Rama Raju is given the TDP ticket.
He openly commented that TDP high command had insulted him without allotting a ticket though he worked hard for the last five years.
In an embarrassment to the party last Saturday, TDP leaders from Undi raised slogans during a meeting of Naidu at Palakollu. They demanded that Manthena Rama Raju should only be the candidate from Undi.
Naidu was however unhappy with Rama Raju and warned him against provoking the cadres.
If there is no cooperation from the cadre, it will be tough for Raghu Rama Raju to win the seat, say analysts.
