Annamalai Left Out? BJP Picks Andhra Pradesh Veteran Venkata Satyanarayana For Rajya Sabha
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced P Venkata Satyanarayana as its nominee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election from Andhra Pradesh, putting to rest speculation around other potential candidates, including Tamil Nadu’s K Annamalai.
Who Is Venkata Satyanarayana?
Satyanarayana, 64, hails from Bhimavaram in West Godavari district and has been a long-time BJP stalwart with close ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as per a report on PTI. BJP national general secretary Arun Singh confirmed his name through an official party statement.
A lawyer by profession, Satyanarayana has held multiple leadership positions in the BJP at the state level. He served as Andhra Pradesh BJP vice-president from 2018 to 2021 and currently heads the party’s state disciplinary committee. His political résumé also includes contributing to the BJP’s election manifesto for 2014 Andhra Pradesh and Telangana polls and contesting the 1996 general election from Narasapuram.
The resignation of V Vijayasai Reddy, a former YSRCP MP triggered the by-election. With Satyanarayana’s likely election, the BJP will now have two representatives from Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, alongside BC leader R Krishnaiah.
Annamalai Left Out?
What’s notable about this announcement is who was left out. K Annamalai, the former Tamil Nadu BJP president, had been the subject of intense speculation regarding a possible Rajya Sabha nomination. Earlier this month, Annamalai announced he would not return as Tamil Nadu BJP chief, fueling rumours about his potential entry into the Upper House, as per a report on India Today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had even indicated that Annamalai would play a larger role at the national level.
However, with the spotlight now on Satyanarayana, questions remain about Annamalai’s immediate political future and how the BJP plans to utilise him on the national stage.
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