Suspense prevails over the list of Telugu Desam Party candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh, triggering intense political speculation within party circles.
The TDP, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has already allotted one of the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats to the Jana Sena Party, which has nominated industrialist Lingamaneni Ramesh.
However, the TDP is still delaying the finalisation of its list. According to party sources, the prolonged suspense is being linked to the ongoing foreign tour of TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh, who is currently on an official visit to Russia.
Speculation within the party suggests that Lokesh wants the final list of Rajya Sabha candidates to be cleared only after his return to India on June 8 morning.
Though there has been no official confirmation from the party leadership, the timing of the announcement has fuelled talk that consultations involving Lokesh are playing a role in the final decision-making process.
Sources indicate that two of the three nominees have already been virtually finalised. Educationist and chairman of Bhashyam Educational Institutions, Bhashyam Ramakrishna, is widely believed to be among the confirmed candidates.
A long-time supporter of the TDP, Ramakrishna stood by the party during its years in opposition and is said to have been assured a Rajya Sabha berth after missing out on an opportunity to contest the Guntur Lok Sabha seat in the previous elections.
The second likely nominee is incumbent Rajya Sabha member Sana Satish. Satish entered the Upper House through a by-election in December 2024, and his term is scheduled to end on June 21.
Given that he has served only about 18 months, the party leadership is understood to be inclined towards granting him another term.
The real contest, however, is believed to be over the third seat. Party leaders are reportedly weighing social and political considerations before arriving at a final decision.
The choice is said to be between a representative from the Scheduled Caste community and one from the Backward Classes category.
Senior TDP leader Varla Ramaiah, a prominent leader from the Madiga community, is among the frontrunners. Ramaiah remained firmly with the party during difficult times after the 2019 elections, when several leaders distanced themselves from the TDP.
His loyalty and consistent support for Chandrababu Naidu are said to be major factors working in his favour. He was also considered for a Rajya Sabha berth in the past but narrowly missed out when the party eventually nominated Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar.
On the other hand, Chintakayala Vijay’s name is also being actively discussed. Vijay belongs to the BC community and is the son of Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu.
Sources said efforts are underway to secure a parliamentary position for Vijay, making him a strong contender if the party opts to allocate the seat to a BC leader.
However, Lokesh is said to be keen on getting the Rajya Sabha ticket for his close associate Kilaru Rajesh. If his word prevails, either Sana Satish or Chintakayala Vijay may have to lose out.
The final announcement may come only after Lokesh returns from Russia and participates in the last round of discussions.
“In case he leaves the decision to his father, the list will be released by Saturday evening,” sources said.
