TRS fields Rajeshwar Reddy for MLC polls

HYDERABAD: After much deliberations, the ruling TRS decided to field Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, an educationist, for the Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal Graduate Constituency.

The decision came after hectic parleys by party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao with ministers and senior leaders including ousted deputy chief minister Dr T Rajaiah in Hyderabad.

Though there was speculation that the TRS will field its Nalgonda district president Banda Narender Reddy for the MLC election, the TRS leadership finally narrowed down on Rajeshwar Reddy, who unsuccesfully contested the Nalgonda MP seat in 2014 elections, giving scope for some dissent in the party activists. Rajeshwar Reddy is presently the TRS state convener for membership drive.

Narender Reddy, who tried for Nalgonda Assebly seat in 2014 elections but could not get the same, was earlier assured of MLC ticket by the TRS chief and had even started campaigning and also enrolling graduates as voters to secure his chances.

With the party putting an end to the suspense, Narender Reddy and also other aspirants like Chakilam Anil Kumar, TNGO president Venkateshwara Murthy and also some senior leaders of Khammam and Warangal, are reportedly unhappy over the selection of Rajeshwar Reddy.

'What is the need for giving a second chance to Rajeshwar Reddy when he could not win the elections in 2014? There are several leaders who worked for the party since its inception and they should be given a chance,' rued a senior party leader.

Rajeshwar Reddy's supporters, however, are saying that being a native of Warangal and having educational institutions in Nalgonda, Rajeshwar Reddy will have a better chances of winning.

Rajeshwar Reddy will face BJP's Errabelli Rammohan Rao, who is supported by the TDP. Rammohan Rao is a native of Warangal district and he is also having educational institutions and wide contacts in Nalgonda and Warangal districts.

Taking the elections as a challenge and an opportunity to enter the Council for the first time, the saffron party cadre are working hard for the past two months.

The Congress party, which is struggling to keep its flock together, had relied on a private channel anchor 'Teenmar Mallana' for the MLC constituency.

Both Rammohan Rao and Teenmaar Mallanna filed their nomination on Monday. Rajeshwar Reddy and also employees' union leader G Deviprasad, who is the TRS' candidate for Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar MLC constituency will file their nominations in a day or two.

Meanwhile, the BJP's Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy- Mahbubnagar Graduates constituency candidate N Ramachander Rao filed his nomination on Monday amid the presence of TDP leaders from the city.