Two MLC seats in Telangana, contenders galore from Congress, BRS

HYDERABAD: The bye-elections for two seats of the Telangana Legislative Council under MLAs quota will be held on January 29. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued separate notifications for the bye-elections.

The seats fell vacant following the resignation of Kadiam Srihari and Padi Kaushik Reddy who were elected to the Telangana Legislative Assembly. Their terms as MLCs were due to expire on November 30, 2027. According to the notification released, the ECI would conduct separate bye-elections for the two MLC seats in Telangana.

The BRS had already expressed its displeasure over the ECI’s decision to conduct separate bye-elections for the two MLC seats. Due to separate notifications, the Congress which has a majority in the Assembly, would have an upper hand in the bye-elections and is likely to win both seats with a preferential voting system.

Many contenders for two seats

The Congress has numerous contenders for the two MLC seats. With no Muslim MLAs in the Assembly, former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir is one of the names being considered by the party. The decision to nominate Shabbir would project the party as minority friendly ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Apart from Shabbir, popular minority community faces like former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, and Feroz Khan, who narrowly lost in Nampally Assembly elections, could also be in contention.

Read More: Assembly releases separate notifications for MLC elections, polling on January 29

For the other seat under the MLAs quota, the Congress is planning to nominate TPCC working president T Jayaprakash Reddy alias Jagga Reddy, and SA Sampath Kumar, who lost the Assembly elections from Sangareddy and Nagarkurnool, respectively. The party could also nominate Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) president Prof M Kodandaram and poet Ande Sri in the council under the Governor’s quota.

Others who could also be nominated include Mynampally Hanumantha Rao, who lost at Malkajgiri, former MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud, who lost at LB Nagar.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy flew to New Delhi on January 12 to finalise the candidates with the high command. He also discussed the candidates’ names for four MLC seats — two under Governor’s quota and one each from Khammam-Nalgonda-Warangal Graduates’ constituency and Mahbubnagar local bodies constituency.

Read More: MLC elections: EC decision to conduct separate polls detrimental to BRS chances, Congress to benefit

While Professor M Kodandaram is tipped to get the MLC seat either under MLAs or Governor’s quota, Teenmaar Mallanna emerged as the front-runner for the Khammam-Nalgonda-Warangal Graduates constituency. Mallanna came second, losing to Palla Rajeshwar Reddy of BRS from this seat.

Former Union Minister Balram Naik from the ST community, former Minister G Chinna Reddy, Dalit leader Addanki Dayakar and TPCC working president Mahesh Kumar Goud are also in the reckoning. From student organisations, Youth Congress State chief Shiva Sena Reddy and NSUI State president Balmoori Venkat are also in the race.

The BRS, which hoped for a single election, wanted to nominate from a host of candidates including Dasoju Sravan, Kurra Satyanarayana, Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy, T Rajaiah, Chilumula Madan Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy. However a recent clarification from the ECI had shattered the BRS’s hope of a single election.