The stage is set for the first by-election in Telangana State as notification for Medak Parliamentary constituency was issued on Wednesday. Election was necessitated following Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s decision to resign his Medak Lok Sabha seat and retain Gajwel Assembly seat. Mr. Rao had won both the seats with thumping majority in the general elections.
Medak in-charge Collector A. Sarath announced the notification saying that the last date for filing of nomination is August 27. Scrutiny of nominations would be taken up on August 28 and the last date of withdrawal would be August 30. Election would be conducted on September 13 and counting taken up on September 16. The election code of conduct came into force immediately and all the elected representatives were asked not to sanction any new works or lay foundation or inaugurate completed works.
Major political parties have begun the exercise of finalising the candidates for the keen contest. The contest is likely to be between TRS, Congress and the BJP-TDP combine. The BJP-TDP had joined hands in the general elections and the same alliance may continue in the by-poll too. The list of aspirants from the major parties is growing by the day as several seasoned politicians, employees union leaders, besides businessmen are keen on entering the fray. There is intense competition among the TRS leaders for the ticket as the party feels that it has good chance of retaining the seat.
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Names of TNGO leader G. Devi Prasad and transport fleet owner Kotha Prabhakar Reddy are doing the rounds. It is understood that initially Mr. Prabhakar Reddy, who owns a successful transport company, was interested in contesting the general elections but was asked to wait for some time. Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao is said to be toying with the idea of fielding him from the parliamentary constituency.
Equally determined is Mr. Devi Prasad, whose popularity among the TNGO union and employees JAC during the peak of separate statehood movement was very high. He is hoping that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao would give him a chance.
The Congress party too has the list of aspirants growing. Dr. Shravan Kumar Reddy, who lost the last elections to Mr. Rao is hopeful of the ticket while names of former Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Raj Narasimha, former Minister V. Sunitha Lakshma Reddy, DCCB chairman Bhupal Reddy, former MP Vijayashanti and former Whip T. Jayaprakash Reddy are also under consideration. A section of the party feels that by fielding TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram, it can split the votes.
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The BJP is serious about fighting the polls with State BJP chief G. Kishan Reddy showing interest. Other names that have cropped up are that of former MLA Baddam Bal Reddy and Ch. Narendranath, who contested the last election.