TDP is kicking off the election campaign in Tirupati with a bang to gain an early advantage

TDP mayoral candidate M. Srinivasa Prasad participates in the election campaign in Tirupati on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KV POORNACHANDRA KUMAR

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday launched its campaign for the Tirupati Municipal Corporation elections on a brisk note ahead of the YSRC camp, in a bid to gain an early advantage.

The party nominated its constituency convener Manne Srinivasa Prasad (JB Srinivasa) for the post of mayor, while the YSRCP picked a lesser-known party cadre, Vasu Yadav.

In keeping with his earlier promise to allot the mayor’s seat to a BC candidate, YSRCP in-charge Bhumana Karunakar Reddy appointed Vasu Yadav to the post even though the seat remained unreserved. According to sources in YSRCP circles, the move was seen as a precedent for the promotion of a regular entry-level cadre to a post meant for the first citizen.

In stark contrast, Srinivasa Prasad was initially given the charge of the assembly constituency but was suddenly shifted to the post of mayor.

The TDP reportedly expects the move to tilt the balance in favor of its candidate as Srinivasa Prasad is personally popular as a Kapu candidate, a community that is numerically strong in Tirupati. In fact, the duo share a history as Vasu Yadav staged a dharna outside Srinivasa Prasad’s residence after an argument a few months back.

Meanwhile, the YSRCP closed the door on several other contenders and chose Vasu’s candidature in the hope of consolidating the BC votes.

Published – 21 October 2026 21:25 IST