Troubled BRS struggling to field candidates for Nalgonda, Bhongir
With Congress holding sway over the region, several BRS leaders who had earlier wanted tickets from the seats are not keen to contest anymore
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which has been riddled with defections, courtesy its embarrassing rout in the assembly polls, is now finding it difficult to muster candidates for the Nalgonda and Bhongir Lok Sabha constituencies. Many BRS leaders, who were earlier vying to contest from these seats, are now backing out at the eleventh hour, say sources.
The ruling Congress has announced K Raghuveer Reddy, son of senior party leader Kunduru Jana Reddy, as its candidate for the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat. Speculations are rife that BRS leader Pailla Shekar Reddy may quit the party and get fielded by the Congress as its candidate for the Bhuvanagiri Lok Sabha seat. Reddy is a former MLA from the constituency.
Why are BRS leaders reluctant to contest?
Before the Election Commission notified the Lok Sabha polls, BRS leaders had appealed to party chief K Chandrashekar Rao to give them tickets under the party. However, the enthusiasm seems to have fizzled out within 10 days.
The Congress seems to have an iron grip over the Nalagonda district. The party won 11 of the 12 assembly seats in the Nalgonda district in the recently-held assembly elections. Both the Nalgonda and Bhongir Lok Sabha constituencies are currently represented by the Congress – by Uttam Kumar Reddy Nalamada and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy respectively.
Sources say the defeat of BRS in the assembly elections had left the district leaders dejected. So much so that even protests planned by the party could not be organised properly. This caused several BRS leaders to abandon the ship and migrate to other parties.
Unnerved by Congress?
While some leaders were hopeful that the party would take the Lok Sabha polls seriously after its assembly rout, many felt that giving it the benefit of the doubt may prove too costly for their political careers.
According to political analysts, the implementation of the promised six guarantees by the Congress after it formed government has deterred several BRS leaders, who now see no chance of winning against Congress candidates in the Lok Sabha polls.
The recent arrest of BRS leader K Kavitha in a money laundering case has also left party leaders unnerved. The situation has been aggravated by the migration of several MLAs and MPs from BRS to the Congress.
Aspirants back out
Gutta Amit Reddy, son of Telangana assembly chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy, who initially showed enthusiasm to contest from Nalgonda Lok Sabha constituency, has also backed out. It is learned that Amit Reddy has made it clear to the party high command that he has no intention to content in the Lok Sabha polls despite being summoned by party working president KT Rama Rao.
While Tera Chinnapa Reddy was expected to be fielded from the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat, he too has backed out of the race. The same is the case with the party’s state secretary, Chada Kishan Reddy.
Left with no other option, the party is reportedly mulling to field Kancharla Ramakrishna Reddy, who has no experience of contesting any election till now, for the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat. Ramakrishna Reddy is the brother of former Nalgonda MLA Kancharla Bhupal Reddy. His candidature, political analysts say, would serve Congress candidate K Raghuveer Reddy Nalgonda on a platter.
No takers for Bhongir
The BRS is facing a similar conundrum when it comes to selecting candidates for the Bhongir Lok Sabha seat. With Pailla Shekar Reddy said to be out of the race, even Gutha Sukender Reddy, who was earlier game to contest from the constituency, is not interested anymore.
Amit Reddy said that some people were opposing his candidature, hence he gave up the idea of ​​contesting the elections. He was reportedly referring to former minister and Suryapet MLA Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy.
“'BRS will pay the price for its mistakes. The BRS assembly election was overshadowed by public opposition. Congress will implement all the promises it made during the elections. In Telangana, especially in Nalgonda district, Congress must continue in the Lok Sabha elections," said Congress’ Nakirekal MLA, Vemula Veeresham.
