The selection of sitting Telugu Desam Party MP C M Ramesh for a second term in the Rajya Sabha elections by party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu may not be a big surprise for many and in fact, he was an expected choice.
However, it certainly raised a lot of curiosity among the media persons in the wake of reports that Naidu might pick up a Reddy candidate in his place.
There was a talk that Naidu might pick up Kadapa TDP unit president Srinivasa Reddy for the RS seat, because of his efforts to build up the party in the district, which is considered to be a bastion of the YSR Congress party.
Sources say, Ramesh also did not get the RS nomination for the second term so easily. He had to do intense lobbying for the seat and used the influence of HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
It is learnt Ramesh almost threatened to resign from the party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party, if he was not given the RS nomination.
Secondly, Ramesh also knows the weaknesses of Naidu and has thorough understanding of the irregularities committed in Amaravati and Polavaram works.
If he joins the BJP, there is every possibility that he might expose Naidu’s irregular dealings. And that did the trick and Naidu was forced to approve his name for the RS seat for the second term, sources said.
