Meet new TDP MPs: first-timers to veterans, political heirs to YSRCP turncoats, ex-officers to industrialists

The Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP swept the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, storming back to power in the state. Fighting these polls in alliance with the BJP and the Pawan Kalyan-led JanaSena Party (JSP), the TDP bagged 16 Lok Sabha seats out of the 17 it contested, emerging as a key player on the national stage. Here is a lowdown on all the newly-elected TDP MPs, who are set to play a crucial role in the new BJP-led NDA dispensation at the Centre.

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has won for the third consecutive time from the Srikakulam constituency in north Andhra Pradesh, this time against Tilak Perada of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) with a margin of 3.2 lakh votes. The 36-year-old MBA is the national general secretary of the TDP and was its floor leader in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

His father, K Yerran Naidu, was a senior party leader and a former MLA and MP, who was a Union minister in the United Front government between 1996 and 1998. His uncle K Atchennaidu is the MLA from Tekkali besides being the TDP state unit president.

Kalisetti Appala Naidu

Appala Naidu was a surprise last minute pick by Chandrababu Naidu as the TDP’s candidate from the Vizianagaram seat. The 50-year-old leader has an LLB degree and is a former journalist who joined the TDP 25 years ago. He was elected to the Ponduru Agricultural Marketing Committee.

In 2004, he was made a member of the TDP’s Human Resource Development Wing and made in-charge of TDP’s North Andhra training institute for the TDP cadres in Vizianagaram. He imparted training to cadres on basic governance issues. This was his electoral debut, in which he won against Bellana Chandrashekar of the YSRCP by 2.4 lakh votes.

Sribharat