Why is Congress unable to finalise candidates for Khammam, Hyderabad , Karimnagar Lok Sabha seats?

HYDERABAD: Why is the Congress party unable to finalise candidates for three important Lok Sabha seats of Khammam, Karimnagar and Hyderabad. The party in phases announced its candidates for 14 out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who is also the president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, had made three rounds of visits to vet the lists and finalise the candidates for the 14 seats. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, in his capacity as member of the Central Election Committee (CEC), have participated in the selection of candidates. Though the Congress won the Assembly elections and formed the Government in the State, it is grappling with too many contenders in Khammam and it is unable to zero in on the candidate for Karimnagar. Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat doesn't have contenders from the Congress.

Nandini, wife of the Deputy Chief Minister, was one of the earliest contenders to have thrown her hat into the proverbial rink from Khammam Lok Sabha seat. However, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy wanted their kin to be in the fray from the querulous constituency. Thummala wanted to field his son, while Ponguleti wanted his brother to be fielded. Bharat Rashtra Samithi fielded its sitting MP Nama Nageshwar Rao from. the seat. The Bharatiya Janata Party nominated businessman Tandra Vinod Rao from this constituency. As it appears, the fight is between the Congress and the BRS here. Thummala Nageswara Rao's son Yugandhar and Ponguleti's brother Prasad Reddy are sparing no efforts.

However, as the issue turned out to be knotty, Thummala and Bhatti Vikaramarka agreed upon supporting the candidacy of one Rayala Nageswara Rao by withdrawing their family members from the race. However, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy is not budging. Field reports suggest that contest between the Congress and the BRS would really be tough only if Ponguleti Prasad Reddy is fielded. Amid this, Bhatti Vikramarka and Ponguleti headed to Bengaluru to discuss the issue and have t he ticket given for their choicest candidates by discussing the matter with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

While no conclusion was arrived at on this, Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdary told the media on Monday that she was keen to contest, though she was elected to the Upper House very recently. She said she would not hesitate to contest from Khamma Lok Sabha seat, if the party felt so. Thus, she had thrown an option before the party leadership. What Revanth Reddy's thought process is about this contentious seat is not known to any one. However, will he have the final word or will he be sidelined in the decision-making with regard to Khammam seat has yet to be seen.

When it comes to Karimnagar, the fight looks to be between sitting BJP MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar and BRS candidate B Vinod Kumar the Congress, which had promised the ticket to forer MLA A Praveen Reddy, is now contemplating giving the seat to Velichala Rajender Rao. This angered Praveen Reddy who had sacrificed the Husnabad to Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar. Now, he is angry with the party leadership for dodging and ducking in allotting the ticket to him. If the Congress doesn't field him, he might consider the option of quitting the party.

When it comes to Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, it is a bastion of All India Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen president and sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi. BJP nominee Kopella Madhavilatha who is courting controversy after controversy and is staying afloat in the news, is supposed to be giving a fight. That whether she is able to offer a stiff opposition to Owaisi is still not clear, as of now.

The Congress is said to have considered a tie-up with Majlis Bachao Tehreek. However, its for-now blow-cold relationship with the MIM is resisting it from going ahead with the poll truck and the party is till unable to find its way forward. The Chief Minister who is busy campaigning not only in Telangana, but even in other States, is also grappling with finding suitable candidates for the three seats.