Some leaders from the ‘Greater Rayalaseema’ region, which spans from Prakasam to Chittoor districts, have expressed displeasure over the latest selection of candidates by the TDP-Jana Sena parties for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. The leaders questioned the lack of representation from the 11 districts, which comprise nearly half of the entire State.The TDP announced Sana Satish, Bhashyam Ramakrishna, and Chintakayala Vijay as its Rajya Sabha nominees, while its ally, Jana Sena, named industrialist Lingamaneni Ramesh. Mr. Vijay hails from North Andhra and the other three are from central Coastal Andhra. “Aspirants from Rayalaseema region have virtually been elbowed out,” a leader from the combined Anantapur district told The Hindu, requesting anonymity.TDP’s Polit Bureau member and former Kadapa district president Reddeppagari Srinivasa Reddy expressed displeasure over the party’s choice.Mr. Reddy was reportedly promised the Rajya Sabha seat by the party president and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu after he had agreed to give up his claim to the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in 2024.According to reports, Mr. Reddy’s political strategies and financial backing played a pivotal role in the TDP’s victory in seven out of the ten assembly segments in the combined Kadapa district in 2024 elections, in which it had drawn a blank in 2019.The rousing victory was made possible by the numerically, economically, and socially strong Reddy community rallying behind the TDP, especially in the YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s home turf of Kadapa.“The pertinent need to nurture the Reddy community in Rayalaseema was strongly felt, but the party leadership once again ignored this crucial factor,” opined a TDP leader from Nellore district, hailing from the Reddy community.In an ‘X’ post, Mr. Srinivasa Reddy, who is currently the party’s Zonal Coordinator for Anantapur and Hindupur parliamentary constituencies, openly expressed his displeasure over the high command’s decision.“The party not honouring its commitment will be the most disappointing episode in my political career. However, I will continue to work for the party workers, for the people and for the region,” he posted. The party high command reportedly contacted Mr. Srinivasa Reddy, but he was unconvinced. Published - June 07, 2026 08:27 pm IST