Rush for tickets among the Telangana Congress leaders and their Seemandhra counterparts shying away sums up the mood of the ticket-seekers in general elections.
There is a sense of confidence among the Telangana leaders while the Seemandhra Congressmen are all at sea unable to muster courage to fight on the party ticket knowing very well the severe beating they are sure to face.
With 17 parliamentary constituencies in Telangana, Congress MPs – Sarvey Satyanarayana (Malkajgiri), Anjan Kumar Yadav (Secunderabad), Madhu Yaskhi (Nizamabad), S. Rajaiah (Warangal), P. Balram Naik (Mahbubabad), Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy (Bhongir), Gutha Sukhender Reddy (Nalgonda) and Suresh Shetkar (Zaheerabad) are sure to be retained.
But, the race for Peddapalli, Nagarkurnool (SC), Medak, Chevella, Mahbubnagar and Khammam constituencies has intensified. Defection of G. Vivekananda (Peddapalli) and M. Jaganatham (Nagarkurnool) to TRS has left the field wide open.
Names of Government Whip Arepalli Mohan, former Karimnagar ZP chief Lakshman Kumar and Gajjala Kantham, JAC chairman of people’s organisations are likely to be considered for Peddapalli seat. With Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy planning to shift to Mahabubnagar, there is heartburn among former MP D. Vithal Rao and MLC Jagadishwar Reddy, who are contenders for the seat.
Medchal Congress MLA K. Laxma Reddy and P. Karthik Reddy, son of former Home Minister P. Sabtiha Indra Reddy have staked the claim for Chevella, represented by Mr. Jaipal Reddy.
In Nagarkurnool, Congress party is forced to search for the right candidate after former MP Mallu Ravi said he would contest Assembly polls. Congress leadership reportedly approached former TDP Minister P. Ramulu but the latter has turned down their request.
Khammam may see a local candidate getting the nod with former AICC secretary P. Sudhakar Reddy making desperate attempt for the ticket. Speculation that TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah had set his eyes on Bhongir constituency is likely to create friction with sitting MP Rajagopal Reddy stoutly opposing such move.
In Adilabad, the party may have to search for a new face.
AP scenarioWith 25 LS seats In Andhra Pradesh, the Congress finds itself in dire straits after bifurcation as its fortunes have nosedived with five former MPs joining Jai Samaikyandhra Party and former Union Minister D. Purandeswari crossing over to the BJP. Few others are all set to switch loyalties while some are with the YSR Congress.
Union Ministers – Killi Krupa Rani (Srikakulam), Kishore Chandra Deo (Araku), M. M. Pallam Raju (Kakinada), Panabaka Lakshmi (Bapatla), Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy (Kurnool) and MPs - Botcha Jhansi (Vizianagaram), K. Bapiraju (Narsapur) and Chinta Mohan (Tirupati) may be retained.
However, the party’s task is cut out in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Amalapuram, Guntur, Narasaraopet, Ongole, Nellore, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Chittoor, Rajampet, Kadapa, Anantapur, Hindupur, Nandyal and Kurnool.
“We will be able to assess the situation and short list names of leaders, who are still with the party during the bus yatra in 13 districts. It will give us an idea on who should be fielded,” a PCC functionary said even as there is a move to field some former Ministers.
However, APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy claims that there was no dearth of candidates.
