Palair set to witness multi-corner contest

Khammam: A multi-cornered contest appears on cards for the byelection of Palair Assembly seat if one goes by the precedent set by the TRS recently.

It may be mentioned here that TRS contested and won Narayankhed Assembly seat in spite of the Congress plea to ensure election of its candidate unopposed as has been the tradition in the past if a vacancy caused due to the death of a sitting member.

In the 2014 election, Ramreddy Venkat Reddy, who secured 69,514 votes, defeated his nearest rival MB Swarna Kumari of Telugu Desam by a margin of 21,758 votes. The constituency also has a strong presence of CPM as its candidate P Sudarshan Rao secured 43,984 votes.

But there has been a sea of change in the district politics since the bifurcation of the state and the fast-paced developments followed after it, especially after the then TDP strongman Tummala Nageswar Rao joined the TRS.

His arrival into the TRS has not only changed the landscape of the district politics but also strengthened the ruling party, which has no significant base in the region.

Incidentally, Palair seat was the bone of contention between the two stalwarts of the TDP – Tummala and the former MP Nama Nageswar Rao.

Then Tummala wanted to contest for the Palair seat, but the internal bickering had forced him to contest from Khammam seat which he lost eventually. On the other hand, the TDP also lost the Palair seat.

Speaking to The Hans India, TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said: “We will ask the TRS to let a member from the departed party MLA Venkat Reddy's family is elected unopposed from his Palair Assembly seat.” The party will discuss about its nominee soon, he added.

Congress sources say that if the TRS do not leave the seat to the family members of Ramreddy Venkat Reddy, the party will try to forge an alliance with other parties. They had a poll tie-up with the CPI in the recent times.

It’s learnt that Congress wants to field Ramereddy Venkat Reddy’s wife Sucharitha or one of two brothers – former minister Damodar Reddy or Krishna Reddy. This apart, another brother Gopal Reddy’s son Charan Reddy is also aspiring for the ticket. Speculation is also rife that Sucharitha may contest on TRS ticket.

Although his son Yugandhar wants to contest, Tummala Nageswar Rao is against promoting him. Speculation is also rife that TRS may field Tummala but it was unlikely. The other contenders in the race are DCCB chairman Muvva Vijay Babu, former MLC Potla Nageswar Rao and a NRI Tata Madhu, said to be a close friend of TRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy.

CPM district secretary P Sudarshan Rao, who unsuccessfully contested Palair in 2014 election, said: “We are in consultation with the CPI and other Left parties seeking their support. The party will field a candidate certainly.”

CPI district secretary Bagam Hemanth Rao said that party is yet to take a decision on the byelection. However, it’s learnt that CPI is unlikely to contest.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on YSR Congress. Albeit the Khammam MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy ruled out merger of their party with the TRS, the grapevine is that party’s Telangana unit may be merged with the ruling party during the TRS’ plenary scheduled for April 27.

“Low on morale after the recent drubbings at the hustings in Telangana, the TDP appears to be a pedestrian in the district politically, a senior leader of the party said in anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Tuesday announced that Palair will go to polls on May 16 along with 11 other Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat across the country.

As per the schedule, gazette notification will be on April 22, last day of nomination is April 29, scrutiny is next day, last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 2 and date of counting is on May 19.