Visakha (North) TDP MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao is known to all as a politician who’s in touch with all parties, irrespective of power. However, his decision to quit from the post of MLA has led to a topic of great discussion among political circles. Leave aside the resignation format, what’s the real reason behind his resignation? Several speculations are being made on the internet regarding the issue.
Political history of Ganta
Let’s take a look into the political history of Ganta. A businessman by profession, Ganta Srinivasa Rao was elected as a TDP MP from Anakapalli Lok Sabha constituency in 1999. Later, he was elected as an MLA from Chodavaram in 2004 on Telugu Desam Party ticket. However, he joined Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party which was set up in 2008 and won from Anakapalle in 2009. But with the Praja Rajyam Party having been merged with the Indian National Congress, he had no other option but to join the Congress. He worked as a Minister under then AP CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy during the Congress regime. Following the bifurcation of the state, he left the Congress to re-join the Telugu Desam Party and represented the Bhimili Assembly Constituency. In 2019, despite the TDP losing power, Ganta won from Bhimili Assembly. From some time, he has been away from the TDP. There has also been speculation over Ganta joining the ruling YSRCP. But with YSRCP Minister Avanthi Srinivas expressing his objections, according to close sources, Ganta remained mum on the issue. Recently, Ganta even called it quits from MLA post over the Vizag Steel Plant privatisation issue.
Close to Chiranjeevi
It is known that Ganta Srinivas Rao is a close aide to Megastar Chiranjeevi. While serving in the Congress and the TDP, Ganta had attended several events with the megastar. It may be recollected that there was an argument between YSRCP MLA Roja and then Minister Ganta over the issue. There were speculations made that Ganta had proposed for the land allocation of Chiranjeevi’s new studio. Following the YSRCP having assumed power, Tollywood heroes Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna met AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy. There were rumours that they had met CM regarding land allocation. Later CM Jagan had invited the megastar for lunch, while it was expected that Ganta would join them, it was only attended by Chiranjeevi and his wife Surekha. But it is said that Ganta had met Chiranjeevi while returning from CM residence.