The race for the speaker's post has hotted up in the TDP. Already, four MLAs have thrown their hat in the ring for the coveted post.

Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu is busy evaluating the candidatures of Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar, Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao and Kaluva Srinivasulu. Chandrababu has already talked to all these four MLAs individually. He may announce the name of the new speaker on Thursday night or Friday morning.

The election for the speaker's post will be held in Friday and the notification will be released on Thursday.

Etcherla MLA Kala Venkata Rao met Chandrababu along with his family members and his close relative and minister Kimidi Mrunalini to plead his case.

Sattenapalli MLA Kodela Sivaprasada Rao also met the chief minister and requested him to select him for the post as he is one of the seniormost leaders in the party. He told that he should be considered for the post as he could not enter the cabinet due to caste equations. Chandrababu listened to the version of Kodela and told him that he would consider his name for the post.

Ponnuru MLA Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar also met the chief minister. He reminded Chandrababu his loyalty to the party since the beginning. As his name was not considered for ministerial berth, he is now requesting the party leadership to give him the post of speaker.

Rayadurgam MLA Kaluva Srinivasulu too had expected a berth in Chandrababu’s cabinet. As per the sources, he is ready even for the post of deputy speaker incase he could not get the post of speaker of the state assembly.
- Sakshipost