The dream of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to see a non-Congress Legislative Council in Telangana was shattered with the Congress senior leader T. Jeevan Reddy emerging victorious in Karimnagar-Adilabad-Nizamabad-Medak Graduates Constituency.
His win will ensure that Council will have Congress representation even as its two present MLCs - Shabbir Ali and P. Sudhakar Reddy- complete their term on March 29. The win has also boosted the sagging morale of the party with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) ‘supported’ candidates losing in other two seats as well.
TRS chief whip in the Legislative Council, Paturi Sudhakar Reddy, was in the third place in the Karimnagar-Adilabad-Nizamabad-Medak Teachers Constituency where Kura Raghotham Reddy of the Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union (PRTU) candidate, supported by the Congress, emerged winner.
In Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal Teachers Constituency, Alugubelli Narsi Reddy of the United Teachers’ Federation (UTF), supported by the Congress, defeated sitting MLC Poola Ravinder of the PRTU. Mr. Ravinder switched over to the TRS after winning on the PRTU platform last time.
Interestingly, the results came days after several Congress MLAs decided to defect to the ruling party and more importantly in the districts that have been the strongholds of the TRS since the agitation days.
TRS version
The TRS however said they did not support any candidate in the MLC elections officially or unofficially and stayed away from it and in no way the results are a reflection of the party’s performance.
Party general secretary Palla Rajeshwar Reddy said the party refused to give ‘B’ form to the contestants and did not ask the party leaders or the cadre to extend any support as Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was very clear on staying away from these elections.
“There was no campaigning as well except where candidate based on their personal relations invited some MLAs and local leaders,” he said.
The most notable win among the three was of former Deputy Floor Leader in the Assembly, Mr. Jeevan Reddy, who lost in the recent Assembly elections with a huge margin from Jagityal. He defeated M. Chandrashekar Goud, who resigned as Deputy Commissioner of the Transport Department. Mr. Goud had openly claimed the support of the TRS.
The TRS appeared to be on a mission to eliminate Congress from the Council after four Congress MLCs gave a representation to Council Chairman T. Swamy Goud seeking merger with the TRS, and it was immediately accepted. On the other hand, three MLCs who joined the Congress before the Assembly polls were stripped off of their membership for defecting to Congress after winning with TRS support.