Visakhapatnam: Even as the family of Gitam founder MVVS Murthi , who died in a road accident in the US on October 3, is hoping that the ruling TDP would nominate Sri Bharat, Murthi’s grandson , as the party’s candidate from Vizag Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 elections, the party itself is keeping its cards close to its chest.“It is by no means certain that Sri Bharat will get the TDP ticket for Visakhapatnam parliamentary seat,” says Ganta Srinivasa Rao, the state HRD minister and party strongman in the north-coastal districts of AP.“Discussions are ongoing in the party regarding Vizag seat. Some leaders have suggested that Palla Srinivasa Rao, the party MLA from Gajuwaka, be given the ticket, while others have suggested that I should contest the LS elections from Vizag, but I am happy working in the state.“In any case, it is still too early to talk about that. The chief minister (N Chandrababu Naidu) and the party will decide on who has the best chance of winning the seat,” Srinivasa Rao told TOI.Asked whether he would support Sri Bharat if the 28-year-old gets the party ticket — in the background of speculations that he had been a serious detractor of late Murthi in the party — Srinivasa Rao replied in the affirmative. “I am a supporter of Murthi. In fact, it was because of my support that Murthi was nominated as MLC when there were others who were against his nomination,” the HRD minister claimed.Murthi served two terms — 1991-96 and 2004-09 — as Lok Sabha member from Visakhapatnam. His family believes that given his long association with the party, his grandson would be the best candidate to represent the TDP.The sitting MP from Visakhapatnam is Kambhampati Haribabu of BJP. According to Srinivasa Rao, Haribabu’s chances of getting re-elected in 2019 are negligible.“Haribabu won the seat in 2014 because the BJP had an electoral alliance with the TDP. This time around, there is no such alliance, so BJP’s chances of retaining the seat are non-existent,” he said.Malla Vijay Prasad, president of YSR Congress’ Visakhapatnam unit, says this time the contest in Visakhapatnam will essentially be between the TDP and YSRC.“The Congress is yet to live down the ignominy of being the party that presided over the bifurcation of the united state of Andhra Pradesh. The party is likely to field MVV Satyanarayana from Vizag,” he said.Satyanarayana is a city-based real estate developer.

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