It’s a strange situation of problem of plenty and scarcity in terms of candidates to contest elections on behalf of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
The party does not have strong candidates with winning chances in over 30 Assembly constituencies, but at the same time, it’s grappling with a situation where more than one aspirant has hit the road in 20 constituencies. They have taken up canvassing unmindful of the chances of getting the ticket. Interestingly, the party leadership has remained silent with president K. Chandrasekhar Rao holding cards close to his chest. As many as five aspirants – former MLA A. Govind Naik, Rekha Sham Naik, Vijayalakshmi Chauhan, Prakash Chauhan and hostel warden Govind Naik – are campaigning in Khanapur (ST) constituency of Adilabad.
In most of the constituencies, the tussle is between the constituency in-charges and the newcomers who were promised tickets on joining the party. The latter category comprised MLAs and leaders who jumped over from other parties. They were authorised to put up candidates in the elections to mandal and zilla parishad territorial constituencies, much to the displeasure of the hitherto in-charges.
This came to the fore at Boath (ST) in Adilabad where former in-charge Ramulu Naik, who was not considered for ticket, went to the extent of challenging his bête noire Gedem Nagesh, MLA and former TDP Minister, not only on his home turf but Adilabad Parliamentary constituency. Now, both are campaigning for Boath and Adilabad Lok Sabha seat.
The uncertainty over tickets has left a few aspirants frustrated though they have not embarked on campaigning yet. But the more aggressive leaders have made up their mind to take the fight to the enemy camp irrespective of the party leadership’s decision. The situation sis found at Manakondur (SC) – Rasamai Balkishan v/s C. Anand; Manthani – C. Sunil Reddy v/s Putta Madhu; Choppadandi – Balka Suman v/s G. Sobha; Peddapalli – Eda Shanker Reddy v/s Manohar Reddy; Karimnagar – Gangula Kamalakar v/s Laxman Rao.
