Magunta Raghava Reddy backs out of Ongole Parliament seat race; says father will contest on TDP ticket

VIJAYAWADA: TDP leader Magunta Raghava Reddy has withdrawn from contesting the Lok Sabha elections. A statement released by him on Monday said that his father Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy would be contesting the seat this time. The statement read that the decision was taken upon TDP president Chandrababu Naidu's insistance that if a senior member of the Parliament won on behalf of the TDP in the election, it would be easier for the party to request necessary funds to the State from the Centre.

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Raghava Reddy requested the TDP, the BJP and the Jana Sena party cadre to work efficiently to ensure his facther's victory. He added that he would work for the development of the Ongole Parliamentary constituency by being accessible to the people.

There were speculations that the Ongole ticket would be given to Raghava by the TDP this time. Both Raghava and his father defected from the YSRCP recently. The father-son duo are accused in the Delhi liquor policy scam and had turned approvers.

The Enforcement Directorate infact arrested BRS MLC Kavitha and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal based on the confession statement by Raghav