Lack of candidates forces Congress to import 4 MP candidates from BRS so far

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has reportedly reached a consensus on its list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Surprisingly most of them are recent imports from the BRS.

The Congress reportedly felt that those from the BRS were more likely to win the seat than the existing Congress leaders.

The AICC's Central Election Committee (CEC) had met in New Delhi on Tuesday to finalise the names of candidates proposed by the TPCC.

The list of leaders who defected from the BRS to the Congress and are likely to get a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections included Ranjit Reddy from Chevella, Patnam Sunitha Mahender Reddy (Malkajgiri), Danam Nagender (Secunderabad) and Pasunuri Dayakar (Warangal).

While Ranjith Reddy's name was almost a given, it was not a natural choice for the Congress for the other candidates. Sunitha Mahender Reddy, wife of BRS MLC Patnam Mahender Reddy, who was also appointed as the Vikarabad Zilla Parishad chairperson joined the Congress hoping to contest from Chevella. But Ranjith Reddy's joining threw a wet blanket on their plans.

Also Read: Revanth Reddy’s jeer at Ranjith Reddy, Danam go viral after they joined Congress

With Sunitha likely to be declared as the Malkajgiri candidate, it would be hard pill to swallow for film producer-turned-politician Bandla Ganesh, who was seeking to contest from the seat.

Similarly, Danam Nagender's defection has also put an end to the aspirations of former Hyderabad Mayor and BRS leader Bonthu Rammohan who had made all preparations for nomination as the Secunderabad candidate.

Apart from this list, the Congress reportedly looking to give a ticket to BRS MLA Pyla Shekhar Reddy in Bhongir constituency instead of Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy's wife who could emerge as a strong leader.

Similarly in Warangal, sitting MP Pasunuri Dayakar, who was denied the ticket for Lok Sabha by the BRS, could be given a ticket as he looks to be a stronger option after having won the Lok Sabha seat twice.

Apart from this, the Congress is reportedly considering offering the Adilabad Lok Sabha seat to BJP leader Dr Naitham Sumalatha who is working at RIMS, Adilabad.

Congress finalises candidate for Secunderabad Cantonment by-election?

With the passing away of BRS MLA Lasya Nandita in a car accident last month, the focus is on the bye-election which would be held anytime in the next six months.

Sri Ganesh Narayanan, who contested as a BJP candidate from the constituency in the Assembly elections held in December, joined the Congress party on Tuesday and is reportedly being considered as the face of the party for the bye-election.

Interestingly, Sri Ganesh was part of the road show in Malkajgiri held by the BJP last week in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest. Soon after, Sri Ganesh held discussions with former MLAs Patnam Mahender Reddy and Mynampally Hanumantha Rao for couple of days and decided to join the Congress.