Nehru's homecoming unnerves 3 TDP legislators

VIJAYAWADA: The entry of former minister Devineni Nehru into Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday created tremors in the ruling camp. The grand show organized by Nehru group to announce its homecoming put TDP legislators on their toes when it unleashed a campaign to portray Nehru as 'new monarch' of city politics.
Gannavaram legislator Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan and Penamaluru MLA Bode Prasad rushed to meet chief minister Chandrababu Naidu soon after he returned from Visakhapatnam and discussed the fallout of Nehru's return to TDP.Gadde Rammohan, Vijayawada east MLA, was also perturbed over Nehru, it is learnt.
The legislators are believed to have explained as to how the Nehru group had polarized his followers from many constituencies in Krishna district by undermining the party leadership. They also expressed serious concern about Nehru's followers' interference in their constituencies.
Sources said that Naidu gave a patient hearing to the legislators and assured them of taking care of their political future. "You need not worry about Nehru. Forget about his group's entry and continue your good work in the constituencies," Naidu told Vamsi. TDP state president Kala Venkata Rao was present at the meeting.
Highly-placed sources said that Naidu might not hesitate replacing MP Kesineni Nani with Devineni Avinash, son of Nehru, in the next Lok Sabha elections keeping in view of Nehru's resources. "Elections are nearly 30 months away but anything could happen at the time of elections," said a legislator from the city.
Sources said the three MLAs were particularly worried as they fear that the veteran leader might set his eyes on one of their segments to seek ticket for Avinash. Nehru has a good following in Vijayawada east, Penamaluru and Gannavaram segments as all these constituencies were part of Kankipadu segment which he represented for long. They suspect that district minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao might encourage his cousin and his group in the city to outsmart his rivals, including Nani.
Though these legislators had opposed the entry of Nehru into TDP, they did not raise their voice in the past prompting Naidu to welcome Nehru with open arms. However, Thursday's mega show of strength by the Nehru group rattled the legislators, who wasted no time to knock Naidu's door.
Nehru, who has a stranglehold on real estate and liquor businesses, lured many second rung leaders into his fold across the district.