As reported earlier by us, TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu has finally chosen C M Ramesh as the party’s candidate for Rajya Sabha. Chintakuntla Munuswamy Ramesh, presently as the vice-president of the party, has been a long-standing confidante of Naidu.
The decision effectively means that the claims of Mysoora Reddy, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Yerrannaidu were not considered by the party chief.
CM Ramesh is Chairman and Managing Director of Rithwik Projects Private Limited. His company website describes Ramesh as`the picture of a cutting edge entrepreneur endowed with exemplary vision, leadership, resource mobilization, and project management skills’.
Those who know his antecedents say that Ramesh’s rise has been meteoric. Though belonging to Velama community which has a miniscule presence in Yerraguntal area of Kadapa district where he hailed from, Ramesh, through his political contacts, has been been able to become a promoter of one of the leading infrastructure companies in the country.
He is currently executing projects worth Rs 8,500 crore across the country, including the Rs 4,000 crore Nagarjuna Sagar – Dummugudem project. He is said to have two helipads at his residence at Yerraguntla. He is building a huge house beside the residence of Chandrababu Naidu in Jubilee Hills.
It was Ramesh who played the role of mediator during the run-up to 2009 elections between TDP and TRS. Besides KCR, he is also said to have maintain good relations with KVP Ramachandra Rao.
TDP sources say that his selection was mainly due to the fact that he would help the party mobilize funds for the next Assembly elections. Despite the fact that he stuck to the party for many years, many partymen express discontent against Ramesh who they feel is enjoying his proximity to Naidu only due to his financial strength.
Many sections within the party may not like Chandrababu’s decision to give ticket to an industrialist for the second time after nominating Sujana Chowdary the last time round.
