Beleaguered Congress hunts for candidates

Party looking at second and third rung leaders as possible MP candidates in parts of Telangana while it’s in doldrums in Seemandhra

The Congress is all at sea over finalising candidates for at least five parliamentary constituencies in Telangana. In Seemandhra, it’s the reverse with senior leaders themselves shying away from entering the fray. The party is virtually in doldrums in Seemandhra region as top leaders have quit the party.

Selection of suitable candidates for Peddapalli and Nagarkurnool (both SC), Adilabad (ST), Khammam and Chevella constituencies is proving to be a daunting task. Defection of Peddapalli and Nagarkurnool MPs – Dr. G.Vivekanand and Dr. Manda Jagannath to the TRS created void, the Congress is finding it difficult to pick up a strong candidate in other three constituencies.

It is understood that Congress had sounded out JAC leader Gajjala Kantham and a senior journalist for the Peddapalli seat, but they declined the offer.

This has left the party to look at second and third rung leaders as possible choice. The same is the case with Nagarkurnool where the party is still looking out for an able candidate.

Names of former MP Mallu Ravi cropped up but he has set his eyes on Jadcherla assembly seat while Mallu Ramesh is seen as a weak candidate.

There is a talk that Union Minister Sarvey Satyanarayana may be asked to shift his seat to Nagarkurnool.

Khammam seat is turning out to be problematic as local leaders are squabbling for the ticket. The party is said to be keen on allotting the seat to CPI to avoid infighting. In Chevella, if Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy moves out, name of P. Karthik Reddy may crop up.

In Seemandhra, the party has been able to identify some candidates by re-nominating Killi Kruparani (Srikakulam), Botcha Jhansi (Vizianagaram), M.M. Pallam Raju (Kakinada), K.C. Deo (Araku), K. Bapiraju (Narsapur), Chinta Mohan (Tirupati) and Panabaka Lakshmi (Bapatla).