Campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections is in full swing and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) seems to have edge over the Congress and BJP in Karimnagar and Peddapalli constituencies. What is hurting the opposition parties is that they have no star campaigners to promote their respective candidates.
On the other hand, TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao kick-started electioneering for the party candidate B. Vinod Kumar by addressing a meeting at SRR College grounds on March 6 here, followed by meetings by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at Regional Sports School grounds on March 17 and in Godavarikhani coal belt covering Peddapalli parliament constituency.
Mr. Rama Rao has been touring various assembly segments including his own turf, Sircilla.
The seven TRS legislators from Karimnagar parliament constituency and six legislators from Peddapalli parliament constituency have intensified electioneering in their respective segments with the support of local body leaders. TRS leaders are also according priority to meetings with caste-based organisations.
Low-key affair
Congress campaigning is a rather low-key affair given the absence of star campaigners, including national and State leaders. Recently elected MLC from Karimnagar graduate constituency T. Jeevan Reddy, who was appointed in-charge for the Karimnagar constituency, was campaigning rigorously along with candidate and TPCC working president Ponnam Prabhakar.
Similarly, Manthani Congress legislator D. Sridhar Babu was appointed in-charge from Peddapalli parliament constituency and is campaigning with Congress contestant A. Chandrashekhar. But, there are no prominent faces to give a fillip to the electioneering. Party workers had expected the arrival of at least TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy or working president A. Revanth Reddy to lead the campaigning, but they both have confined themselves to their respective constituencies — Nalgonda and Malkajgiri.
The only saving grace for Congress’ Peddapalli candidate was film star Vijayashanthi’s campaign on March 3. TJS president M Kodandaram has also campaigned twice there. Congress leaders had ruled out AICC president Rahul Gandhi’s visit for campaigning.
BJP contestants from Karimnagar B. Sanjay Kumar and Peddapalli S. Kumar seem to be demoralised following the cancellation of BJP national president Amit Shah’s meeting in Karimnagar town.
