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Harish Rao a square peg in a round hole?
Whether it was intentional or inadvertent, the TRS Party supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao’s move to appoint T Harish Rao as the incharge of Warangal East Assembly segment to ensure the victory of the party candidate in the Warangal Lok Sabha seat has not gone down well with the latter’s followers.
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BYPOLL CAMPAIGN BLUES
Irrigation Minister is alleged to be cut up with Konda Surekha in Warangal East Assembly segment
Warangal: Whether it was intentional or inadvertent, the TRS Party supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao’s move to appoint T Harish Rao as the incharge of Warangal East Assembly segment to ensure the victory of the party candidate in the Warangal Lok Sabha seat has not gone down well with the latter’s followers.
It appears that Harish, who reportedly opposed Konda Surekha’s entry into the TRS, is not willing to campaign with her in the by-election. The rivalry between Harish and Konda Surekha dates back to a long time and it was worsened more after the Manukota firing incident in 2010 in which police opened fire on protestors who hurled stones at YSR Congress leaders. Then in YSR Congress Party, Konda Surekha allegedly used foul language against Harish.
On the other hand, his brother-in-law KT Rama Rao (KTR) has been entrusted with the duty of looking after Warangal West Assembly segment, where its MLA D Vinay Bhaskar is well ahead in manoeuvering his forces for the by-poll. It may be mentioned here that while appointing ministers as in-charge for all seven Assembly segments that fall in the Lok Sabha constituency, KCR also said that these in-charges would be responsible for the results of the by-elections.
Sources close to Harish Rao say that it could result in double whammy for their leader if the voting percentage in favour of the TRS decreases. “Post 2014 elections, the TRS’ hold in the Warangal East Assembly segment is on the slide considerably,” a senior leader of the party told The Hans India. Party’s hold in Warangal West Assembly constituency is intact, he added.
In case of party’s vote share in Warangal East segment decreases and Warangal West witnesses a rise, it will have an adverse effect on Harish’s image. Although both the leaders were trying for ascendency in the party, the game of one-upmanship between them was always an undercurrent. Now it has become a contest within a contest for Harish. Besides getting on with Konda Surekha for the campaign, he will also have to prove his manoeuvering skills by ensuring a sizable majority in the by-election from his assigned constituency.
In this backdrop, all the ministers, who were made in-charges of Assembly segments of the Lok Sabha constituency, have conducted meetings on November 1 except Harish. Moreover, Harish didn’t also turn to Warangal when the TRS candidate Pasunuri Dayakar filed nomination papers on November 4. He was also supposed to attend party workers’ meeting same evening.
With campaign in all other Assembly constituencies is picking up steam, the leaders are yet to plunge into poll mode in Warangal East segment. Now it has become a debate in the political circles that whether Harish would take up the challenge or shy away from the responsibility. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Harish Rao was scheduled to attend party workers’ meeting in East constituency on Saturday.
By Adepu Mahender
