TDP, Jana Sena Secure All Four Andhra Pradesh Rajya Sabha Seats Unopposed

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) strengthened its position in Parliament on Thursday after all four candidates backed by the coalition were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh.

The uncontested victory was confirmed after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations expired, leaving only four candidates in the race for the four vacant seats. With no rival nominations in the fray, the Returning Officer formally declared the candidates elected.

The newly elected members are Bhashyam Ramakrishna , Chintakayala Vijay , and Sana Satish Babu from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) , along with Lingamaneni Ramesh , who was nominated by the Jana Sena Party . The allocation of three seats to TDP and one to Jana Sena reflects the power-sharing arrangement within the NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh.

Among the four, the election of Chintakayala Vijay has drawn particular attention. Vijay is the son of Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu , making his entry into the Upper House a notable political milestone for the influential TDP leader's family.

For Sana Satish Babu , the result marks a successful return to the Rajya Sabha. Having recently completed his previous term, he has now secured a consecutive stint in the Upper House after receiving another nomination from the ruling alliance.

The vacancies arose following the retirement of former members Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy , Parimal Nathwani , and Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose , all of whom were associated with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) . Their departure opened the door for the NDA to expand its footprint in Parliament.

The latest development has significantly altered the political balance among Andhra Pradesh's representatives in the Rajya Sabha. With the addition of three new members, the TDP's strength has risen to four seats , matching the current tally of the YSRCP, which once dominated the state's parliamentary representation. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to have two members from Andhra Pradesh, while Jana Sena has now secured its first seat in the Upper House.

The outcome was largely expected given the NDA's overwhelming majority in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The TDP currently holds 135 seats , while its alliance partners Jana Sena and BJP control 21 and 8 seats respectively. Together, the coalition enjoys a commanding majority that virtually guaranteed victory in the Rajya Sabha elections.

In contrast, the YSRCP, which swept the state in the previous electoral cycle, now has only 11 MLAs in the Assembly. The sharp decline in its legislative strength left the party without the numbers required to mount a challenge, resulting in an election that concluded without a contest.

The unopposed election of all four candidates not only reflects the NDA's dominance in Andhra Pradesh but also signals the coalition's growing influence in the national legislature. As the state's political landscape continues to evolve following the 2024 Assembly elections, the latest Rajya Sabha outcome stands as another reminder of the dramatic shift in power that has reshaped Andhra Pradesh politics.