There are over 35 contestants from main parties and independents in LB Nagar assembly segment in Hyderabad city limits. The main fight is between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Congress-Prajakutami nominee is Devireddy Sudheer Reddy. In 2014 election, he lost to TDP nominee R. Krishnaiah but now there is no TDP candidate in the election fray as Congress is given ticket under alliance.
One main reason for Sudhir Reddy’s defeat in 2014 was that his supporter M. Ramamohan Goud quit Congress and contested on TRS ticket. Goud is contesting on TRS ticket this time again. Perala Sekhara Rao is BJP nominee. As Congress and TRS are locked in a direct contest, both the parties are making all out efforts to win the seat by using all their resources. The Congress is pinning its hopes on the support from the Telugu Desam Party cadres as part of alliance dharma.
But the question remains as to how far TDP leader Sama Ranga Reddy’s followers will actively support Congress nominee till the last minute. Ranga Reddy was expecting the ticket for LB Nagar and he has worked hard in the constituency in the last four and half years for this. A longtime TDP leaders, Ranga Reddy has got good following in many colonies in the segment. As LB Nagar is given to alliance, Ranga Reddy is now given Ibrahimpatnam ticket. There Congress is promising him with total support.
Given the tense atmosphere among followers, Ranga Reddy has held meetings and asked his followers to work hard for victory of Congress. Similar meetings are being held in Ibrahimpatnam by Congress leaders.
LB Nagar has 4.74 lakh voters of whom nearly one lakh are from Andhra and one lakh more are settlers from other parts of Telangana state. Settlers’ votes play crucial role.
