Visakhapatnam:Visakhapatnam Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is said to be in the grip of IT Minister N Lokesh. There was speculation earlier that Lokesh would contest from the district but this subsided soon. Once the TDP started the process of allocating tickets and Party supremo Chandrababu Naidu himself mentioned the name of Lokesh from Bhimli constituency, which is being represented by Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao as of now.

Meanwhile, Anakapalli MP Avanthi Srinivasa Rao left TDP to joined YSR Congress Party(YSRCP) and became the coordinator of the constituency.

It is learned that TDP wanted to place Lokesh against Avanthi, but later dropped the plan and is fielding him from Bhimli. Meanwhile, Ganta Srininvasa Rao has been asked to choose between Vishakaptnam North, Gajuwaka, and Chodavaram.

Another TDP leader and party district incharge Panchakarla Ramesh Babu has been seeking Visakhapatnam North ticket from a long time.

It is reported that only Madugula, Payakaraopet tickets are pending, while others have been decided. A row over Chodavaram ticket has not been resolved but it is being said that Chandrababu is rooting for sitting MLA KSN Raju.

Meanwhile, the request of Minister Ayyanna Patrudeu to grant his son Anand the ticket of Anakapalli MP constituency has been declined and Ayyanna has been asked to contest from Narsipatnam.

As per reports, Chandrababu held a meeting with the coordinating committee where all the aspiring candidates and rebels have raised their voice againt sitting MLA and warned Chandrababu that if reassigns tickets to them, he is bound to lose as all of them are facing corruption allegations. Sitting MLAs of Payakaraopet, Chodavaram, Madugula sitting MLA are facing the wrath of the rebels.

Konathala Ramakrishna, who is all set to join the party on March 17 is being offered the Anakapalli MP ticket. Araku MP ticket has been assigned to former Central minister Kishore Chandra Deo. However, Chandrababu has denied Visakhapatnam MP ticket to Bharath, son of late MVVS Murthy and co-brother of Lokesh. This ticket might be offered to one among Ganta and Palla Srinivasa Rao.

The tickets confirmed for the Assembly are Visakhapatnam East- Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, Visakhapatnam North- Ganta Srinivasa Rao or Panchakalra Ramesh Babu, Visakhapatnam South- Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar, Visakhpatnam West- PJVR Naidu(Ganababu), Gajuwaka- Palla Srinivasa Rao or Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Bhimili- Nara Lokesh or Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Pendurthi- Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, Narsipatnam- CH Ayyannapatrudu, Araku- Kidari Sravan Kumar, Paderu- Giddi Eswari and the talks on Payakarao Pet and Madugula are still on added a senior TDP leader with a leading daily.

Also Read: YSRCP: Data Belongs To 3.6 Crore Residents Of AP