KCR out to cast Aakarsh net on second-rung leaders

​Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao resumed the second round of ‘Operation Aakarsh,’ and this time the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Supremo targeted second rung leaders of the Opposition parties mainly the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the district, who are eyeing to win good number of panchayats in the ensuing local body elections. The elections are likely to be held in July.

According to sources, the MLAs have been asked to find leaders who could be better prospects for the party in the Panchayat elections. 

Sources said that the party had until now concentrated on MLAs and senior leaders, but now the focus has been shifted to second level leaders in districts so that the party can have leaders who can put up a good show in the upcoming Panchayat elections.

Party sources said that the ruling party MLAs have been asked to find horses for courses in the villages and they have already initiated the process. The search started from Khammam district where the party leaders feel that second rung leaders would come in handy for the party. Sources said that Congress leader and former society chairman G Rama Rao from Dendukuru Village in Madhira Mandal is likely to join the TRS. Rama Rao had reportedly told his followers that he might switch to the ruling party. 

Senior TRS leaders had already talked to Rama Rao and he is expected to join the ruling party soon.  The political atmosphere in the villages is getting hot with leaders looking for better options. The efforts are going on to have elections in July. The Panchayat Raj Minister J Krishna Rao had said that the elections would be held as per schedule. He said that by June 25 the reservations would be finalised. 

Sources also said that there are several other leaders who are willing to join the ruling party but are waiting for the finalisation of the reservations. Once the reservations are finalised and the schedule is announced, there would be more influx of leaders into TRS from other parties, said a senior leader in the party. 

Sources said that apart from identifying the candidates, the MLAs would be taking the responsibility of ensuring victory of these candidates. If the candidates are not financially weak, the MLAs would be asked to support the candidate in getting the leader elected, said the party leader. The conversion of Tandas into Gram Panchayats would also help the party garner many votes. Over 4,000 new Gram Panchayats have been formed by the government recently.