Even as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) announced its candidates for the MLCs to be elected under the MLAs’ quota and that too making its intentions clear of possible poaching from other parties announcing an additional candidate compared to the strength it has in the Assembly, the Telangana Congress is looking for a financially strong candidate who can hold its flock together.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief N. Uttamkumar Reddy has announced a sub-committee of MLAs to finalise the name of the MLC candidate and it will meet on Monday to suggest a possible candidate. The committee consists of D. Sridhar Babu, Vanama Venkateshwara Rao, Sabitha Indra Reddy, Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, D. Sudheer Reddy, Podem Veeraiah, Rega Kantha Rao and Chirumarti Lingaiah. Congress has a strength of 19 MLAs in the Assembly and hopes that the two MLAs from its grand alliance partner, Telangana Telugu Desam, Party (TTDP), will also vote in favour of its candidate ensuring smooth win. But the party is now a dilemma after the TRS not only announced an additional candidate but its working president, K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) claiming comfortable majority for all four candidates of TRS and one from MIM.
With the government keen on ensuring win for all its candidates, the Congress aspirants are now in a dilemma as they fear poaching from the ruling party. Some of the aspirants who were keen earlier have now backed out. Mr. Shabbir Ali, who will be completing his term has already told the party that he would not seek re-election as Mr. Rao was getting personal with him and will go all out to defeat him.
Another name that cropped up was of Marri Shashidhar Reddy, who was denied of MLA ticket in the elections. His recent meeting with A.P. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu led to speculation that he was serious and wanted Mr. Naidu’s help in getting the two TTDP MLAs vote for him.
Sandra angle
But with strong rumours of Sattupalli MLA from TTDP, Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, likely to shift his loyalties, its getting all the more complicated for Congress. A senior leader admitted that money will play crucial role in the election and the aspirants are expected to spend a lot.
In the changed scenario, the name of TPCC treasurer, Gudur Narayan Reddy has cropped up. He has good equations with all the MLAs, financially strong and is banking on his relations with AICC leadership. But what matters for Congress is not only getting votes of all its MLAs and also the two TTDP MLAs.