TDP to Become Zero in RS: Why Is Naidu Still Avoiding Contesting?

Rajya Sabha Elections: As the deadline for filing nominations for Rajya Sabha ends on February 15, the TDP is virtually out of the race for the upper house of the Parliament. This will be the first time the TDP will have zero representation in Rajya Sabha since the party came to power in 1983. The elections to elect the member for the upper house will be held on February 27. The term of TDP’s lone RS member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar will end on April 2. 

Owing to the party’s poor strength in Andhra Pradesh Assembly, the TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu’s is learnt to have decided against fielding any candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The party’s candidate should secure 44 votes to win the Rajya Sabha seat in the elections. The TDP won 23 MLA seats in the 2019 Assembly elections, but following the departure of five of its MLAs, the party’s strength has been reduced to 18 in the Assembly . 

Recent developments suggested that Naidu had changed his mind after his trip to the national capital where he met the Union Home Minister and other BJP leaders to stitch a pre-poll alliance with the saffron party. The Centre’s national party has not given any clarity on the political overtures of TDP leader, however, Naidu reportedly decided to field a BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. He had even attempted to reach out to some legislators from the ruling party hoping that in the event of denial of party ticket for the ensuing Assembly elections, those MLA’s might extend their support to TDP’s Rajya Sabha candidate. 

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