Though it is certain that the MLC election results will not affect the numbers of the ruling TRS, they may indicate the future of politics in the state.
An
interesting battle is on cards in the next month's elections to two
seats of the Telangana Legislative Council from graduates'
constituencies as the ruling TRS faces an acid test.
The resurgence of the BJP following its recent victories and entry of
two prominent academics in the fray has made the MLC polls an uphill
task for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Though the number of graduates eligible to vote in
Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar and Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda
constituencies are around 10 lakh, the fact that they cover 75 out of
119 Assembly constituencies make the poll battle significant.
While the result will have no bearing on the numbers in upper house of
the state legislature, where the TRS continues to enjoy overwhelming
majority, political observers say the outcome will indicate the mood of
voters ahead of 2023 Assembly elections.
The outcome may also an impact on ensuing elections to Warangal and
Khammam Municipal Corporations and bypolls to Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly
constituency.
The TRS, which has never won Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar seat,
tried to upset the calculations of the opposition by fielding former
Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao's daughter S. Vani Devi. This is seen
as another attempt by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to appropriate
the legacy of Narasimha Rao, the only Telugu to occupy the country's
top post.
The BJP, which is aiming to retain the seat, has once again fielded N. Ramchander Rao, a senior party leader and an advocate.
The Congress too has fielded a formidable candidate in former minister
and senior leader Chinna Reddy. In a surprise move Telugu Desam Party
(TDP) state President L. Ramana has also entered the fray, apparently
eyeing large chunk of graduates hailing from neighbouring Andhra
Pradesh.
However, the TRS and the BJP will be facing the toughest challenge from
Professor N. Nageshwar Rao, who represented the seat twice in the past.
He is once again contesting as an independent and is considered popular
among voters, whose numbers have doubled to 5.17 lakh since the
previous election.
As many as 179 candidates have filed nominations for
Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar seat, which will be going to polls
along with the other seat on March 14.
Considering the significance of election, TRS working President K.T.
Rama Rao is himself working on the party strategy. He has roped in
ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders to ensure the party's
victory. As many as 41 Assembly constituencies come under
Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahbubnagar seat.
The TRS also faces a tough battle in retaining Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda seat. It is once again fielding P. Rajeshwar Reddy.
Upbeat over its victory in Dubbak Assembly by-election in November last
year and impressive performance in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation (GHMC) elections a month later, the BJP is going all out to
wrest the seat from the ruling party to once again demonstrate that it
is the only viable alternative to the TRS.
The BJP has already launched an aggressive campaign. Party's Telangana
incharge Tarun Chugh also hit the campaign trail. On his maiden visit to
the state, he told a public meeting that he would urge the Union Home
Minister to order a probe into corruption charges against the TRS
government.
The BJP has fielded G. Premender Reddy from this seat while Ramulu Naik
of Congress is trying his luck. The entry of Professor M. Kodandaram
has made the poll battle interesting.
Kodandaram had played an active role in Telangana statehood movement
with Chandrasekhar Rao but parted ways after he was sidelined by the TRS
following formation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014. A bitter
critic of KCR's policies, he floated the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).
Television show presenter C. Naveen Kumar, popularly known as Teenmaar Mallanna, has also entered as an independent.
A record number of 78 candidates, many of them independents, are in the
fray for Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates' constituency.
The CPI, the TDP, the AAP and several smaller parties have also fielded
their candidates. The multi-cornered contest will make it difficult to
predict the winner.
SOURCE ; IANS
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