Warangal (SC) byelection is the prime topic of debate everywhere in Telangana state. Because, as it is going to be held at a time chief minister KCR regime finds itself in a politically not so conducive atmosphere in the state following many flip-flops in the administrative front. He took many decision and rolled back following an uproar from the civil society and opposition parties. Chief minister earned the moniker of roll-back CM. Riding on the wave of TRS government’s unpopularity, the opposition parties strongly believe that Warangal bypoll will be a referendum of sorts on the TRS. There is a feeling among all that certainly it is going to have a bearing the politics in the run up to the 2019 elections.
BJP
BJP floor leader Dr Lakshman announced that Warangal election is referendum on TRS government and hoped that NDA candidate would win the election. BJP is to finalize its candidate in a day or two. Three candidates are vying for the BJP ticket namely, Dr Devaiah, an NRI, former minister A Chandrasekhar, and a local doctor A Chandramouli. TDP as per the understanding with BJP, left the seat to the saffron party. The party’s handicap is that the it is in short supply of heavy weights and PM Modi is not so attractive a personality in Telangana.
Congress:
Of all the political parties Congress is more confident of a win. The party has successfully recovered from the 2014 electoral shock, thanks to unpopular decisions of TRS government, and the dynamic young leadership. Congress and TRS think the contest will be between them only and presence of TDP and other parties are nominal. KCR himself acknowledged some time back that Congress is the rival party in Telangana. Brimming with enthusiasm of running an uninterrupted campaign against TRS government for over a year, the Congress is mobilizing all forces at its command to wrest the seat from TRS. Winning the Warangal bypoll will greatly improve the chances of coming to power in 2019- is the belief among the party leaders. Even AICC also thinks on the same lines. It’s also keeping tabs on the developments in the state. Competition for the ticket is intense that half a dozen senior leader are lobbying for the ticket. Main candidates in the fray are Sarve Satyanarayana(former union minister), Damodara Rajanarasimha( former deputy chief minister), S Rajaiah (former local MP), G Vivek(former Peddapalli MP ) Rajarapu Pratap, Dr Vijayaramarao. According to party sources, Congress conducted surveys in constituency and the results are in favor of Congress. Today or tomorrow TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and working president Bhatti are expected to leave for New Delhi to finalize the name of the candidate.
The Left:
All the Left parties have already announced their common candidate. After unsuccessful attempt to rope in balladeer Gaddar, nine left parties, which include the CPI and CPM, zeroed in on Osmania Law College principal Gali Vinod Kumar.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti:
Despite many hiccups in the past 15 months ruling TRS is confident retaining the seat because people are still with the party that fought and succeeded in getting statehood to the region. The party believes people confidence is unshaken in KCR leadership. TRS is planning to develop Warangal as next important city in Telangana after Hyderabad. Party leaders also believe that one campaign meeting by the chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is enough to turn the wind in its favor. Ex MP Kadiam Srihari, whose resignation necessitated this election is trying hard to get his daughter nominated from the party. Earlier deputy chief minister, T Rajaiah is opposed to it and is said to have conveyed to the CM that his groups won’t be campaigning if Kadiam’s daughter is fielded. Interestingly, G Vivek, Congress leader and son of G Vivek, is the topic intensely talked about as the possible candidate of TRS. ” If Congress denies him ticket he would come back and file nomination on behalf TRS,” said TRS sources. Pulla Padmavati, Congress MLC till recently, is also trying to switch over if ticked is offered by the TRS. Prof. P. Sambaiah, Errolla Srinivas are the other others name in the circulation among the party circles. KCR as usual takes his own time keeping the aspirants guessing.The election to the Warangal (SC) constituency scheduled on November 21.
