With the party leadership hinting at early elections, TRS leaders aspiring to contest Assembly elections are leaving no stone unturned to make their presence felt, in the party. Some leaders have reportedly left for New Delhi to get an appointment for ‘five minutes’ with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is camping at the country capital on official work.
There is intense competition for each Assembly constituency of the total 12 seats in erstwhile Warangal district.
The highest number of aspirants competing for seat is in Warangal East presently being represented by Konda Surekha. Besides the sitting candidate, Warangal East ticket is being sought by Mayor N. Narender, former minister Baswaraju Saraiah, senior leaders Gundu Sudha Rani and Errabelli Pradeep Rao. Though some of the sitting MLAs have not been left with a good public image, leaders within the party were trying to secure those seats. The party surveys too have graded low some of the MLAs such as M. Yadagiri Reddy (Jangaon), B. Shankar Naik (Mahabubabad) among others. However, Chief Minister reportedly assured the MLAs that he would not change them barring three or four places. This assurance got mixed reaction from the sitting MLAs in the district. It gave both confidence and also fear.
The competition for the ticket at Bhupalpally is also intense, which is being represented by Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary. Having recently joined from the TDP, Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, Konda Sushmitha, Nagurla Venkateswarlu were among those who sought this seat for the next Assembly elections. In Mulug, presently held by Tribal welfare minister A. Chandulal, his son Prahlad and MP A. Sitaram Naik were trying for ruling party ticket. Meanwhile at Palakurthy (sitting MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao), former MLA N. Sudhakar Rao and party senior leader T Ravinder Rao were trying for the ticket this time. At Jangaon, former MLA Kommuri Pratap Reddy, NRI G. Vamshidhar Reddy, senior advocate Arutla Dashmanth Reddy were among those trying if the party leadership denies ticket to sitting MLA M Yadagiri Reddy.
According to party sources, the leadership was keen on winning more of Warangal seats. Candidates may not be announced till the last minute since there is a possibility of rebellion hurting the party’s chances.
