CM Post: Will Balaiah get a belated B’day gift?

With Centre responding in a lukewarm manner to Chandrababu Naidu’s pleadings on the Cash for Votes scam, questions are being raised within the TDP and the political circles about who could succeed Chandrababu Naidu if he is forced to step down.

With reports suggesting that there is a strong body of evidence of the involvement of Chandrababu Naidu in Revanth Reddy affair, party sources are debating, muted though, on the possible successor. The TDP is looking for a ‘Panneer Selvam’ to succeed and several names are cropping up. Among the names in circulation are Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Nimmakayala Chinna Rajappa and even Kodela Sivaprasad. Though Lokesh is also being seen as a possible successor, his inexperience, age and the mention of his name by some accused are turning out to be negative factor.

One name that is strongly being heard is that of Chandrababu’s brother-in-law and NTR’s thespian-scion Balakrishna. Balakrishna’s name is being propped up by several junior ministers and TDP watchers opine that his name could be suggested by Chandrababu himself.

Quite interestingly, Balayya had an unusual birthday on Wednesday. He went to the secretariat and remained closeted with several ministers for quite some time. Several MLAs, ministers and TDP leaders called him up to greet him on Wednesday. Among the ministers who met him were Ravela Kishore Babu, Palle Raghunath Reddy and Achen Naidu. This is giving credence to these rumours.

Hence, the question that is doing rounds in political circles is whether Balayya will get a belated birthday gift?