Chiranjeevi chooses wife to contest in Tirupati bypolls

Tirupati, Jan 24: With news emerging on star-turned politician Chiranjeevi's ascent to Delhi's power corridors from Andra Pradesh, there is another news coming out that suggest that in case of a byelection to the Tirupati Assembly constituency, the candidate will be none other than Chiranjeevi's wife, Surekha. Chiru is the present sitting MLA from Tirupati.

Key functionaries from the Praja Rajyam Party who take care of the itinerary when Chiranjeevi is in his constituency said that the chances of his wife stepping into her husband's shoes cannot be ruled out.

They also stated that Chiranjeevi was constantly enquiring about the upper hand YSR Congress enjoys in Tirupati. He also wanted to know more about the caste equations in the constituency.

On Monday, reports suggested that Chiranjeevi had requested the Congress high command to allow the Tirupati constituency to be represented by one of his family members. Sources also stated that he earlier considered his brother Nagababu and brother-in-law Allu Aravind for the top job. He later decided to field his wife, Surekha.

Taking into consideration the Balija community factor, that constitutes 30 per cent of the voters, Chiranjeevi found Tirupati ideal to continue his family stronghold.

The news of Surekha contesting has stunned the local Telugu Desam leaders. Leaders withing the TDP has stated that in an effort to curb Surekha's popularity they will field former TD MLA Chadalawada Krishna Murthy’s wife Chadala-wada Sucharita into the party and as an MLA candidate.

The YSR Congress on the other hand maintains that their candidate for the Tirupati constituency is former TTD chief loyalist Bhuman Karunakar Reddy.

OneIndia News