KCR focus on South in RS seat allotments

Hyderabad: In a bid to erase the impression that his party accorded top priority to North Telangana leaders in allotting posts in the government and in the party, TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is keen to give importance to South Telangana in the selection of candidates to the Rajya Sabha MP posts for which the schedule for biennial elections was announced by Election Commission on Friday.

At present, the existing two Rajya Sabha MPs -- D Srinivas and Captain Laxmikanath – hail from North Telangana districts of old Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts respectively. 

Three MP posts fall vacant as the six-year term of the incumbents Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar from Congress and TDP MP CM Ramesh will come to an end in April. The other seat fell vacant after the death of Congress MP P Govardhan Reddy last year.

Out of the three MP posts, which are to be elected unanimously as TRS had required strength of the legislators, will be given to KCR’s close relative and aide Joginipally Santhosh Rao who hails from the north Telangana district of Karimnagar.

The TRS leaders said that KCR is scouting able leaders from south Telangana to fill the two MP posts. As the party already decided to allot one seat to Yadava community, party leaders Jaipal Yadav from old Mahbubnagar district and N Narasimhaiah from Nalgonda are the front runners to get elected to the Upper House. State Meat Development Corporation Chairman K Ramaiah Yadav and Karimnagar Zilla Parishad Chairperson Tula Uma are also in the race. 

Finalisation of Uma’s name will help TRS to put an end to the criticism that the ruling party adopted gender discrimination in the allotment of posts, including in the state cabinet.Source said that the third MP post will be allotted to either minorities community, Reddys or other BC communities. As the representation of minorities in Parliament from TRS was nil, KCR is planning to select a leader from the Muslim community particularly from Hyderabad district. From Reddy community, State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy’s name is also under consideration.

Leaders said that KCR will hold State party committee meeting and elicit their opinion on the selection of the candidates in March first week. Before that, the TRS supremo will meet different community leaders to ascertain political equations in the finalisation of the candidates.