Hyderabad: Few senior leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are shying away from contesting in the forthcoming elections. Leaders like Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy have decided not to contest in elections this time. Along with Magunta, few other TDP leaders have reportedly met party supremo and AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and briefed him about their situation.

According to sources, Magunta is said to have told Naidu that owing to his business interests, he’s unable to contest. Magunta in 2014 contested on TDP ticket from Ongole Lok Sabha constituency and lost to YV Subba Reddy of YSRCP.

Referring to Magunta’s meeting, Naidu indirectly said that “One senior leader met me and briefed me about his situation. He doesn’t want to contest in the forthcoming elections. The reason, he cited, is CBI threats. CBI, I-T and other central agencies are targeting leaders of opposition parties and threatening them. Particularly, those who’re in business, are not coming forward to contest. With this, one can imagine, how much pressure the opposition parties are creating.”

After Magunta, other names such as former Kavali MLA Bida Mastan Rao, educationist Penchalaiah and former DGM Nanduri Sambasiva Rao are making rounds for Ongole Lok Sabha constituency.

Meanwhile, Naidu has finalised Eeli Nani’s candidature from Tadepalligudem Assembly constituency in West Godavari district. ZP chairman Mullapudi Bapiraju was trying for this seat, but considering the social equations, Naidu favoured Nani.