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HYDERABAD: From a position that looked invincible five years ago, BRS in Telangana is now beset with desertions of senior leaders like K Keshava Rao and Danam Nagender on the one hand and party candidates backing out of the contest on the other. The party is also facing a peculiar problem ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections – seniors’ reluctance to enter the poll arena and aggressively campaign for the party.
Even before Congress and BJP ironed out their candidates’ lists, BRS boss and former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao was first off the blocks and announced candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state. But the bid to take first-mover advantage backfired with four candidates backing out after their names were announced. The latest was Warangal candidate Kadiyam Kavya, who suddenly withdrew from the race. She is likely to get a Congress ticket.
Earlier, G Ranjith Reddy withdrew from Chevella after KCR declared his candidature. He joined Congress fold, which swiftly named him as its candidate to take on BJP’s Konda Vishweshwar Reddy at Chevella.
Former minister Ch Malla Reddy’s son Ch Bhadra Reddy too backed out. So did legislative council chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy, who was keen on a party ticket (either Nalgonda or Bhongir) for his son Gutha Amit Reddy, and later showing disinclination to contest the polls himself.
Latest rumours doing the rounds is another party candidate and sitting MP, Maloth Kavitha, who was named from Mahabubabad, is likely to withdraw her candidature. However, Kavitha denied the rumours and said she was in the fray and that she would always be ‘loyal’ to KCR.
Party sources said an SC Madiga leader is likely to be fielded from Warangal as Madigas enjoy majority in the constituency. KCR spoke to party leaders from Warangal recently and took their opinions. Sources said the party may even poach a senior leader from Congress.
There are also speculations that the party may offer the ticket to former deputy CM T Rajaiah, who quit the party two months ago. Rajaiah was upset after he was denied the Station Ghanpur assembly ticket in Nov 2023 assembly elections. He was supposed to join the Congress. KCR had given the Station Ghanpur ticket to senior leader Kadiyam Srihari, father of Kavya, who is also likely to resign from the BRS.
Congress leader Singarapuram Indira, who contested unsuccessfully from Station Ghanpur, and former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s wife Swapna are also being considered by BRS, sources said.
Some BRS leaders said former MLA, actor Babu Mohan is also trying for Warangal ticket. Babu Mohan recently quit BJP and joined KA Paul’s Praja Shanti Party but is reportedly ready to join BRS if the party gives him the ticket, a source said.
Even before Congress and BJP ironed out their candidates’ lists, BRS boss and former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao was first off the blocks and announced candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state. But the bid to take first-mover advantage backfired with four candidates backing out after their names were announced. The latest was Warangal candidate Kadiyam Kavya, who suddenly withdrew from the race. She is likely to get a Congress ticket.
Earlier, G Ranjith Reddy withdrew from Chevella after KCR declared his candidature. He joined Congress fold, which swiftly named him as its candidate to take on BJP’s Konda Vishweshwar Reddy at Chevella.
Former minister Ch Malla Reddy’s son Ch Bhadra Reddy too backed out. So did legislative council chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy, who was keen on a party ticket (either Nalgonda or Bhongir) for his son Gutha Amit Reddy, and later showing disinclination to contest the polls himself.
Latest rumours doing the rounds is another party candidate and sitting MP, Maloth Kavitha, who was named from Mahabubabad, is likely to withdraw her candidature. However, Kavitha denied the rumours and said she was in the fray and that she would always be ‘loyal’ to KCR.
Party sources said an SC Madiga leader is likely to be fielded from Warangal as Madigas enjoy majority in the constituency. KCR spoke to party leaders from Warangal recently and took their opinions. Sources said the party may even poach a senior leader from Congress.
There are also speculations that the party may offer the ticket to former deputy CM T Rajaiah, who quit the party two months ago. Rajaiah was upset after he was denied the Station Ghanpur assembly ticket in Nov 2023 assembly elections. He was supposed to join the Congress. KCR had given the Station Ghanpur ticket to senior leader Kadiyam Srihari, father of Kavya, who is also likely to resign from the BRS.
Congress leader Singarapuram Indira, who contested unsuccessfully from Station Ghanpur, and former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy’s wife Swapna are also being considered by BRS, sources said.
Some BRS leaders said former MLA, actor Babu Mohan is also trying for Warangal ticket. Babu Mohan recently quit BJP and joined KA Paul’s Praja Shanti Party but is reportedly ready to join BRS if the party gives him the ticket, a source said.
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