Chandrababu is using blackmail to control TDP ticket aspirants, especially when they are not actively engaging with their constituencies.
Many party members suspect that Babu is using this tactic to warn existing candidates against giving tickets to rich NRIs. Chandrababu has made a decision to strengthen the party financially in order to combat YCP led by YS Jagan.
Chandrababu is seeking well-funded leaders, and Venigandla Ramu, an NRI, was found to compete against Kodali Nani in Gudivada.
There are rumors that the party is threatening its own leaders, showing Ramu and promising to bring such individuals to other constituencies.
Raavi Venkateswara Rao was seeking the Gudivada ticket and was actively working in the constituency. But Ramu suddenly returned from America and secured the Gudivada ticket by leveraging his financial resources.
However, before Ramu was announced as the candidate, Babu called Raavi Venkateswara Rao and stated, "To win against Kodali, you have to spend at least Rs. 100 crores. If you spend that much, I will give you a ticket. Otherwise, I will look for an alternative."
Chandrababu should be praised for his shrewdness in telling Raavi Venkateswara Rao that he cannot afford to spend hundreds of crores, and that someone else should take care of it. Finally, Raavi himself gave up the ticket.
There is a campaign going on that Chandrababu is indirectly threatening every MLA aspirant, stating that they have to spend more than Rs.50 crores in every constituency, or else he will bring NRIs.
NRIs are not hesitating to invest huge amounts in some places, as they are assuming that the TDP will definitely come back to power.
For those who have made large sums of money abroad, Rs.50 crores and Rs.100 crores are not a significant amount. Chandrababu is trying to turn this to his political advantage.
However, TDP leaders claim that all of this is meant to warn their own party leaders, and that NRIs are not naive enough to trust Babu and enter the election space.
There is a mind game being played between the aspiring candidates, sitting MLAs, and Chandrababu.
