The Congress war room in New Delhi is abuzz with discussions continuing for the selection of candidates for the remaining 18-odd seats after the party released its second list on Wednesday morning.
The final list is likely to be released on Thursday after the consent from AICC president Rahul Gandhi who will reach New Delhi from his campaign in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the second list consisting of 10 candidates had more or less expected names but for withholding the names of former TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who is seeking renomination from the Jangoan constituency, and former minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy who is expecting the Sanathnagar seat.
Sources said the Mr. Ponnala’s name was withheld as the Grand Alliance ally Telangana Jana Samithi wanted it for its chief M. Kodandaram. The Telangana Telugu Desam Party is keen on Sanathnagar and is unwilling to leave it. The party, which looks strong in the constituency with large population of voters from Andhra Pradesh, as it is looking at settling scores with Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav who jumped into the TRS after being elected on the TDP ticket in 2014.
Important contestants
The second list contained names of several former MLAs and those who have contested earlier on the party ticket. Mr. Gandra Venkataramana Reddy is nominated from Bhupapally where he will take on Speaker of the first Legislative Assembly of Telangana Madhusudhana Chary.
High Court lawyer K. K. Mahender Reddy is pitted against TRS leader K.T. Rama Rao in Sircilla. Mr. Reddy lost to Mr. Rao with less than 200 votes in the 2009 elections but in the bypoll and the general elections in 2014 Mr. Rao consolidated his position with sizeable margins. Other prominent names in the list are party spokesperson Dasoju Sravan from Khairatabad constituency, former MLAs Vishnuvardhan Reddy from Jubilee Hills and Kichennagaari Lakshma Reddy from Medchal. Former Adilabad MP Ramesh Rathod who joined from the TRS is fielded from the Khanapur ST reserved constituency.
As expected there was dissidence in several constituencies where the aspirants decided to enter the fray as rebels. Most prominent among them is Nayini Rajender Reddy from Warangal West, who filed nomination as a rebel. Mr. Patel Ramesh Reddy who expected the Suryapet seat too was disappointed but has not yet revealed his plans.
However, the Congress party is confident that it can pacify the dissidents once the final list is out. “The party is all set to come to power and candidates who missed out will be taken care of.”
TDP names
Meanwhile the TDP announced two more names on Wednesday night. Sama Ranga Reddy has been fielded from Ibrahimpatnam constituency and Ganesh Gupta from Rajendranagar. Karthik Reddy, son of former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, was expecting nomination from Rajendranagar.
TJS takes a stand
Even as the Congress is busy chalking out its list, the TJS announced its intentions to contest from 12 seats, including Dubbak, Medak, Malkajgiri, Amberpet, Warangal East, Mahabubnagar, Miryalaguda, Siddipet, Jangoan, Asifabad, Station Ghanpur and Wardhannapet.
TJS vice president P.L. Vishweshwer Rao said the the list was released with the consent of the Congress party. “We will continue our discussions and the seats may reduce or increase depending on the outcome of the talks with the Congress,” he said.
