2 weeks Ago By S Viswanath
VIJAYAWADA: The vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Andhra Pradesh is likely to be filled by a candidate from the BJP. This was decided during a meeting held between Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday. According to BJP sources, Amit Shah expressed his desire to field a BJP candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state, and Naidu is said to have agreed to the proposal.
An official announcement in this regard is likely to be made by this weekend. With TDP agreeing to concede one vacancy arising in Rajya Sabha to its ally BJP, speculations were rife in Tamil Nadu that K Annamalai, who recently stepped down as TN BJP president, is likely to get elected to that seat from Rajya Sabha. Sources close to Annamalai, however, said that the national leadership has not made a decision on it yet and it were mostly rumours at the moment.
On the speculations, Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, BJP national co-incharge for TN, told TNIE: “If it happens, it is good. But the party high-command’s decision is supreme since various factors are involved in it.” He refused to comment further.
A senior national-level leader, requesting anonymity, said, Annamalai getting elected from AP is only a speculation at the moment, though it is certain that he will soon be accommodated in a significant position, either in the party organisation or in the parliament. “Given the distinct political scenario in Andhra Pradesh, there are many possibilities. Even a Muslim candidate could be elected for the Upper House from that State,” he said.
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of YSRCP Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy on January 25 and the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the by-election. Though Vijayasai Reddy’s Rajya Sabha tenure was till June 21, 2028, he quit the MP post and also resigned to the YSRCP primary membership.As per the schedule, April 29 is the last date for filing nominations.
Scrutiny of the nominations will be held on April 30, and May 2 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature. Polling will be held on May 9 from 9 am to 4 pm, if necessary. Counting of votes will be taken up at 5 pm on the same day.
However, the byelection is likely to be unanimous considering the strength of TDP-JSP-BJP combine, which got 164 MLAs out of the total 175 in the Assembly.CM seeks funds for Jal Jeevan MissionApart from Shah, the Chief Minister also met other Union Ministers, including Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and discussed various state-related projects and central schemes.After concluding his foreign tour, the Chief Minister arrived in Delhi on Monday night and met four Union Ministers.
Naidu first met Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil and discussed the allocation of central funds for the Jal Jeevan Mission. Expressing the state’s intention to implement the scheme extensively, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for timely fund release. He also briefed the Union Minister on the proposed Polavaram–Banakacharla link project, which aims to make Andhra Pradesh drought-free, and requested support for the initiative.
The CM outlined the project’s benefits and its significance.Additionally, discussions were held on the Atal Bhujal Yojana, during which the Chief Minister highlighted the state government’s efforts to improve groundwater levels and sought central funding for the program.Later, Naidu met Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and discussed the setting up of a High Court bench in Kurnool.
He urged the Centre to initiate the necessary procedures and extend cooperation for its establishment.Subsequently, the Chief Minister met Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and discussed the challenges faced by Andhra Pradesh’s aqua sector due to US tariffs. He pointed out that the 26% tariff imposed on Indian seafood has severely impacted the state’s aqua industry.
He urged the Centre to engage in dialogue with the US to safeguard the interests of aqua farmers..
