Enthusiastic response to Congress ticket for Lok Sabha

Many are likely to apply today as the last day, Tuesday, is considered inauspicious

A strange combination of aspirants are eyeing Parliament tickets for the Congress and they include rank new comers, former Parliament members, former Ministers, student leaders and those who have lost in the recent Assembly elections.

Despite the drubbing the in recent Assembly polls, there is no enthusiasm lost in the party going by the list of aspirants who submitted their applications in the party office seeking tickets from the constituency they are eyeing. More than 30 applicants entered Gandhi Bhavan to test their luck after the party asked the aspirants to apply from February 10 to 12.

The number will only increase in the next two days and the party expects to receive at least 10 applications for every constituency. Party seniors and the election committee will scrutinise the hopefuls and send their recommendations to the party high command that will finalise the list after going through the permutations and combinations of caste, religion, popularity and seniority.

Some interesting names were seen on the first day and they include three-time Rajya Sabha member, V. Hanmantha Rao, who has applied for Khammam seat, which most leaders feel is much safer than other 16 constituencies in Telangana given the recent performance of Maha Kutami in the Assembly elections.

There is already a great demand for the seat with local leaders Renuka Chowdary and P. Sudhakar Reddy among others expecting it.

TPCC vice-president Mallu Ravi has sought Nagarkurnool seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes, and now represented by Nandi Yellaih. It was the only seat that Congress won in 2014 Parliament elections apart from Nalgonda represented by Gutta Sukhender Reddy, who later defected to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

Practically this is the only seat Congress has now in Parliament from both Telugu states. Satish Madiga is another aspirant.

As expected, Patel Ramesh Reddy, who was denied the Suryapet Assembly ticket in favour of Damodar Reddy, is eyeing the Nalgonda seat as he was promised a better option for leaving Suryapet.

However, Nalgonda strongman, Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, who lost from Nalgonda Assembly constituency, has made his intentions clear to contest from here.

Mahabubabad, which is the only constituency other than Khammam where Congress showed majority over TRS in the recent poll,s had two applicants on the first day.

Former Union Minister Balram Naik and Girijan leader Bellaiah Naik both sending their applications.

Student leader Manvata Roy is seeking Warangal and Nagarkurnool ticket. Bhongir constituency saw All India Kisan Congress vice-president M. Kodanda Reddy and Vangala Swamy Goud submitting applications seeking ticket.

Popular figures within the party are expected to file on Monday since the last day is on Tuesday, which many people consider inauspicious. Party, however, will also consider those who don’t apply if they are fit to be nominated given their stature and capacity to spend.