Jana Reddy To Contest Lok Sabha Polls? Komatireddy Brothers To Get 4 Seats?

Hyderabad: Almost 20 days after Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) declared its contestants for the upcoming Assembly elections, the main Opposition party Congress is yet announce its candidates. The Congress leaders attribute the delay in announcement to its consultations with the TDP, TJS and the CPI, which have together formed a grand alliance with a common aim to defeat the ruling TRS party. However, it appears that there is more to it than the grand alliance behind the delay. According to reports, internal politics within the Congress added to its woes, especially in Nalgonda district, where interesting developments have taken place because TPCC Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy also represents the district.

As per credible sources in the party, preparations have been underway for the allotment of various constituencies in the district for quite some time now. But, four strong leaders from the district, who hold high positions in the PCC, are vying for party tickets to their family members and associates. The Congress leadership is facing a challenge in the form of the four leaders, each of which have been elected at least four-times as MLAs, who are demanding for tickets in two constituencies each in the district.

Four Constituencies On Komatireddy Radar

Are the Komatireddy brothers promised four tickets in the district? Yes, according to the Congress leaders in the district. Keeping in view the support they have across various constituencies in the State, the Komatireddy brothers have been demanding a pivotal role in the PCC. Their hopes were dashed when the Congress announced its committees for the Assembly polls recently. With this, the Komatireddy brothers have been insisting on allotting Bhongir, Munugodu, Nalgonda and Nakirekal constituencies to themselves and their confidants. It is learnt that a former Union minister had mediated between them and a leader close to Congress President Rahul Gandhi and had successfully allotted the tickets.

The agreement was made with a plan to give the responsibility of Nalgonda and Nakrekal constituencies to Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Munugodu and Bhongir to Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy. If everything were to go as they planned, Jitta Balakrishna Reddy would contest as the Congress candidate from Bhongir. Yet, the TPCC election committee announcement enraged the two leaders, it seems. Rajagopal Reddy went on to publicly criticize the party authorities over lack of their role in the election committee. The disciplinary committee has till now issued two show cause notices to the leader asking for an explanation on his comments.

In Nalgonda district, there is a strong demand for allotment of eight tickets, two each to four political families, the Komatireddy brothers, Uttam Kumar Reddy and his wife, Jana Reddy and his son and Ramreddy Damodar Reddy and his son. Incumbent MLAs Uttam Kumar Reddy and his wife Padmavathi would be allotted the Kodad and Huzurnagar constituencies respectively, while Jana Reddy and Ramreddy Damodar Reddy are aspiring for two constituencies each to accommodate their sons and are even ready to sacrifice their tickets and contest in Lok Sabha elections if the party does not allot two tickets each.

Amid excitement over the Congress's list of contestants, the four leaders in the district are adding to the pressure on party leadership.

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