Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, whose son Raghava Magunta Reddy is an accused-turned-approver in the Delhi excise policy case that has led to the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Friday got a Lok Sabha ticket from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key BJP ally in Andhra Pradesh.
As reported by The Indian Express, ever since the father-son duo switched from the YSR Congress Party to the TDP on February 28, they have been busy campaigning. And though Srinivasulu — a four-time MP from Ongole — wanted his son to get the ticket this time, sources said the excise case shadow over the latter prompted the TDP decision.
Overall, the NDA in Andhra Pradesh, comprising the TDP, the Jana Sena Party and the BJP, announced candidates for four constituencies. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held simultaneously on May 13.
While Srinivasulu has been nominated from Ongole; TDP’s Kaliseti Appalanaidu got the ticket from Vizianagaram; Ambica Lakshminarayana from Anantapur; and C Bhupesh Reddy from Kadapa.
The father-son duo had found a mention in Kejriwal’s remarks in a Delhi court on Thursday, where the CM said that Srinivasulu gave a statement against him under duress once his son was arrested in February 2023. Raghava was granted bail in October 2023 once he turned approver in the case.
For the TDP, the Magunta family’s influence in Ongole presents an opportunity to make inroads into the constituency. Apart from its political heft, the Magunta family owns Balaji Distilleries and two other companies, and has been in the liquor business for over seven decades.
Also fielded by the TDP, Appalanaidu, who hails from Srikakulam district, is an academician who runs the Sri Sai Group of Educational Institutions. A veteran leader who joined the TDP in 1995, he has worked in various positions, including as the TDP president of Srikakulam district. He was also the campaign in-charge of Srikakulam TDP MP Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. His name was considered after former Union Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who won in 2014, did not show interest in contesting this time, sources said.
Lakshminarayana, the candidate from Anantapur, is the brother-in-law of former Director of Mines V D Rajagopal, an accused in an alleged illegal mining case. Lakshminarayana was with the Congress but shifted to TDP a few years ago. Bhupesh Reddy, the fourth TDP pick, is a leader who holds sway in Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district.