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TRS dilemma over fifth candidate
TRS dilemma over fifth candidate. With little over two days to go for filing of nominations for MLC elections under MLA quota, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi is yet to make up its mind on number of seats it would contest.
MLC elections
Hyderabad: With little over two days to go for filing of nominations for MLC elections under MLA quota, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi is yet to make up its mind on number of seats it would contest. Even though four seats are in the TRS bag for sure, the pink party is exploring all possibilities to capture the fifth seat by defeating the TDP-BJP combine.
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TRS has strength of 63 in the 119-member Telangana Legislative Assembly. However, four legislators each from Congress and TDP crossed the fence to join the ruling party after elections increasing its overall tally to 71. Post defections, the Congress tally slipped to 17 while that of TDP to 11.
Congress is set to bag one MLC seat while the sixth and last seat could be up for grabs. TDP is eyeing the sixth seat but any cross voting might upset its applecart. TDP and BJP (five MLAs) combine put together has a strength of 16. Recently, Telugu Desam MLA M Kishan Reddy switched loyalties towards TRS. Two of his former colleagues were also in touch with TRS leadership but could not change ends.
Had they crossed the fence, the plans of TDP to capture one MLC seat would have been severely affected. However, the ruling party had not given up and it is trying to lure the opposition MLAs to vote for it in case of fielding a fifth candidate. The ruling party is learnt to have approached the MIM having seven MLAs but to their surprise the latter insisted on it be given a chance to field a candidate.
Also there is a difference of opinion in the TRS on fielding a fifth candidate. Some leaders point out that TDP could indulge in horse-trading with Left-wing parties to overcome the deficit. While others are insisting the party leadership to field a fifth candidate only if it is confident of a win. A loss to TDP will be seen as a major setback and TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao is not likely to entertain such possibility.
Advocate JAC for Sriranga Rao Many aspirants have set their eyes on getting TRS ticket. Tummala Nageswara Rao and Kadiyam Srihari, the two ministers without representation in Telangana Legislature are set to be nominated for two seats. Vidyasagar Rao, Yadav Reddy, B Venkateshwarlu, Amos and Naradasu Lakshman Rao are among the front runners for the rest of the two seats.
One among these will be nominated for the fifth seat if the ruling party decides so, it is learnt. Meanwhile, Advocate JAC, which played a crucial role in statehood movement, is also seeking a representation. Lawyers from ten district passed resolution to seek TRS ticket for T Sriranga Rao, Advocate JAC convenor.
By Mahesh Avadhutha
