Balka Suman TRS Candidature Quells Dissidence In Chennur, Finally

In the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's announcement of the list of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) contestants for the upcoming elections on September 6, two sitting MLAs Babu Mohan (Andole) and Nallala Odelu (Chennur) were denied party tickets. There were murmurs of dissent in some pockets.

After days of hectic parleying and protests over the denial of ticket to him, Nallala Odelu's demand for reconsideration subsided after he met KCR while four-time MLA Babu Mohan recently switched loyalties to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Yet, the deadlock over Balka Suman's candidacy from Chennur did not appear to have been solved especially after a TRS worker Odelu's supporter, Gattaiah, attempted suicide on September 12 by immolating himself on the occasion of the Peddapalli MP's launch of election campaign in the constituency.

Prior to the incident, Odelu announced his word to KCR that he would support Balka Suman in the campaign and that he would try and contribute to TRS's win in the constituency. Later, on September 19, Gattaiah lost his life while receiving treatment in a Hyderabad hospital. Reports suggested that Gattaiah tried to put Balka Suman on fire. However, neither TRS Chief KCR nor Balka Suman responded on the death.

With the election date fast approaching, it appears that Balka Suman has a new face from within the TRS to fight in the upcoming elections. According to reports, former minister and TRS leader G Vinod, who also happens to be a sibling of Telangana government advisor G Vivekanand, had been upset he had not got the Chennur ticket. Vinod, who has strong support within the constituency, stood second to Odelu in the 2009 and the 2014 Assembly elections. In 2016, the two brothers joined the TRS from Congress. With the current scenario in the constituency, Vinod is contemplating his return to the Congress, it is widely believed. According to Vinod's associates, the brothers would together return to the Congress.

Reserved for Scheduled Castes, Chennur has always been a Congress stronghold in the past. Known to have launched non-local contestants on several occasions, the constituency has, however, been favourable to the TRS in elections since 2009. The TRS candidate for the upcoming elections is in full flow with his campaign already. Will Congress announce Vinod as its contestant? That is a real mystery for now.

Watch this space for more updates on Telangana Assembly election.

Also Read: Odelu Supporter Dies Over Denial Of TRS Chennur Ticket