Elections usually are a battleground of division, not unity, since people exercise their choice. But in an unusual and serendipitous turn, an estranged couple was united in the recent local body elections. Now the wife, who had rejoined her husband, is all set to become the Mandal Parishad President (MPP) in the Zilla Parishad of Karimnagar district.
As the story goes, a local Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader, Koregeti Laxman from Koratapalli village of Ramadugu mandal is a staunch supporter of the sitting Choppadandi legislator Sunke Ravishankar. Mr. Laxman, who contested the sarpanch elections and lost by a thin majority, had approached the legislator seeking the party ticket for his mother to contest as the MPTC (Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency) member from Mothe village of Ramadugu mandal since it was reserved for SC women.
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The legislator, who was aware of the dispute between Mr. Laxman and his wife Kavitha, had informed the former that he would allocate the party ticket only to his wife. Mr. Laxman married Ms. Kavitha of Kothapalli mandal headquarters some 11 years ago and has been living separately for the last five years due to family disputes. Taking a cue from his leader, Mr. Laxman approached Ms. Kavitha and sought her about living together again. He added the promise of the MLA offering her the party ticket to contest the election.
Then on events began turning happy. With the support of village and community elders, Ms. Kavitha returned to Koratapalli and filed her nomination papers on behalf of the TRS from Mothe MPTC seat. The couple had campaigned hard in the village, which was a treat for the villagers as the separated couple was united in the elections. Incidentally, Ms. Kavitha had won the elections by securing a lead of 480 votes defeating her nearest rival, the BJP candidate.
The legislator had organized a camp with all the elected MPTC members for the election of Mothe MPTC member Kavitha as new MPP of Ramdugu mandal.
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When contacted, Mr. Ravishankar said: “I am blessed that I had united an estranged couple. Besides, I had rewarded a Telangana protagonist with an MPP post to his wife. I am really grateful to the elections and my party for helping me unite a family.”
Mr. Laxman, who is camping along with his wife and other MPTC members in Hyderabad, said that he was really delighted to see his wife win the election and become the MPP. He thanked the people for ensuring his wife’s victory. Some new and happy beginning that.