When the three candidates announced by TRS for Rajya Sabha elections on Sunday are eventually elected, the party would have four members in the Upper House from backward class communities.
The TRS already has K. Keshava Rao and D. Srinivas, both BCs, in the Rajya Sabha, while Banda Prakash and B. Lingaiah Yadav would complete the line up when they are elected. Their victory is seen as a foregone conclusion as TRS enjoys the support of 99, including those of MIM, out of 119 members in the Assembly who constitute the electoral college.
TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao appeared to have plumped for BC candidates given the focus of the State government on welfare programmes for BC communities. His thrust was on sheep-rearing and fisheries, both of which are reflected in Sunday’s selection of candidates. The shepherd community, a sub-caste of Yadavas, is to be represented by Mr. Lingaiah, while Mr. Prakash belongs to Mudiraj caste that is into fishing.
The two castes are already reaping the benefits of government programmes and the latest decision is to consolidate the gains for them, a senior leader said.
By selecting Mr. Prakash, Mr. Lingaiah and Mr. Santosh Kumar, the last one belongs to other castes, Mr. Rao shut the doors on Reddys, Muslims or SCs. It was speculated that he might accommodate one of these three communities to balance the caste equations. In the case of Reddys at least, it was strongly rumoured that he would give them the ticket, given the increasing influence of Congress on the community.
The TRS now has two members of Munnurukapu, a backward class, and one from Brahmin community in the Rajya Sabha.
The party does not have a Muslim in either House of Parliament, triggering speculation that someone from the community might get the ticket.
