Chirala: In a swift move, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu deputed veteran leader and MLC Karanam Balaram to Chirala constituency following the sudden resignation of local legislator Amanchi Krishnamohan.Though speculation was rife about Krishnamohan’s desertion for some time, the party leadership was hoping he would change his mind. Naidu himself had called Krishnamohan and tried to prevail him upon to stay in the party. But after the lawmaker quit, the TDP , in a bid to resolve the crisis in Chirala assembly segment, has now rushed Balaram to coordinate the party affairs there.The senior TDP leader was accorded a rousing reception in the constituency when he attended the party’s coordination committee meeting on Thursday. Though the party is yet to take a call on who would take on Krishnamohan, it’s likely that Balaram would be the man as he has a strong following in the constituency.Interestingly, there were speculations on Balaram himself quitting TDP as he was reportedly upset with the party leadership for not granting a seat to his son Venkatesh, who lost to YSRC’s Gottipati Ravikumar at Addanki in 2014. Ravi later switched over to the TDP, and Venkatesh was sidelined.The sudden exit of Krishnamohan has given Naidu a chance to accommodate the disgruntled Balaram, who is expected to have a say in picking party’s candidates from Chirala and Purchur, and also from Bapatla Lok Sabha constituency. Sources said local leaders want Naidu to nominate someone from the backward community to outsmart Krishnamohan. Former MLA Paleti Ramarao, MLC Sunitha, and handicrafts corporation director Godugula Gangaraju are in the race for the ticket. While Naidu is expected to favour Balaram from Chirala, it has to be seen how he handles the pressure from local leaders.The party has not named a single candidate from the backward community in the 10 general category seats in Prakasam district. “We will protect the party and our cadre. The TDP did a mistake by encouraging Krishnamohan despite repeated complaints from party workers,” said Balaram.He alleged that Krishnamohan tortured party workers with the help of police and they would teach him a fitting lesson in the ensuing polls.

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