Khammam: Denial of Rajya Sabha ticket leaves Ponguleti shell-shocked

The former MP was denied ticket to fight the Lok Sabha elections though he was the sitting MP from Khammam. Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy worked hard for the victory of the party candidate Nama Nageswara Rao in the Parliament polls with a hope that the party would send him to the Upper House. But KCR disappointed him again despite promising him the ticket. He missed the bus to Delhi again

Khammam: Recently, Khamma city was chock-a-block with State Minister and TRS big wigs including party working president KT Rama Rao. They all had descended on the city to attend the former MP from the district Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy's daughter's marriage.

All had gone well, and former MLA was happy to host the who's who of Telangana and might have thought that he had good reputation in the party.

But, when time for Rajya Sabha elections came, Poguleti was denied ticket. Not only former MP but also his followers were shellshocked when they found that his name was missing from the Rajya Sabha candidates list, announced by TRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy had expected Rajya Sabha seat as KCR had assured him after he was not given the ticket to fight the Lok Sabha elections.

During the Parliament election campaign, KCR had assured Ponguleti that he would be given priority, and also a suitable post in the party.

Though he was a sitting MP and was not given the ticket, Ponguleti worked hard for ensuring victor of the party candidate Nama Nageswara Rao. After Nama Nageswara Rao's win once again the party high command gave signal to Ponguleti that he would be sent to the Rajaya Sabha. But when the time came Ponguleti's name was not there, instead Kesava Rao and Suresh Reddy were given preference.

Ponguleti had worked hard for strengthening the party in the erstwhile Khammam district dominated by other parties like TDP, CPM, CPI and Congress. When he was not given ticket to fight the Parliament election, his followers staged protest but Ponguleti pacified them and told them that Chief Minister would do justice with him.

After announcement of the Rajya Sabha candidates, the shellshocked followers reached his camp office to express their anger. In fact, Ponguleti has huge following in both districts—Khammam and Kothagudem.

After hearing the news that their leader was denied the Rajya Sabha candidature, his followers are angry and allege that it was the conspiracy of Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar, MP Nama Nageswara Rao and former Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao. They allege that some leaders intentionally gave wrong feedback to the party high command against him. They said that unable to digest Punguleti's increasing influence among the people, few leaders conspired against him a the high level and succeeded.

However, there are some people who think differently. They are of the opinion that during the Assembly elections, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy worked against the party candidates that's why the party lost Palair, Sattupalli and Wyra Assembly seats. And this had displeased the KCR and when the opportunity came for Rajya Sabha elections, he was sidelined and other leaders of the party were given preference.

A follower of the former MP said he had hope that the party would definitely nominate him to the Upper House. CM KCR had promised Ponguleti of the Rajya Sabha ticket. Though he was denied the ticket in Parliament elections, he strived had for the party candidate' win with good majority. He also added that the former MP had played a key role in joining of the Congress MLAs from the district in the party.

The party had recognised his services and given good posts to his followers recently. Khammam ZP Chairman Lingala Kamal Raju and Markfied Vice Chairman B Raja Sekhar are his followers who got good posts, he added. He appealed to the party high command to give Pongulti a good position in the party.

Meanwhile, Ponguleti Srinvasa Reddy's camp office released a note on Friday. He said that he did not express displeasure and not uploaded any posts on the social media against the party. He said everyone should obey the party's decision. He appealed to the party workers and followers not to get disheartened.