Delayed delimitation turns turncoats into hot potatoes

​Hyderabad: The unavoidable delay in the delimitation exercise has turned turncoats into hot potatoes in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, though these leaders had switched to the ruling party from other political parties with fond hopes of early accommodation. 

Today they are not able to decide whether to remain in the TRS, where the prospects of their getting party tickets are dim in view of intense competition; or, return to the party to which they originally belonged, and which is not getting traction with people as much as the TRS.

Many leaders have joined the ruling TRS during the last three years. Most of them claimed it was in pursuit of ‘Bangaru Telangana’.  Some TRS leaders too had characterized the shift in loyalty as ‘unification of political forces’. 

However, what remained unsaid was that these leaders were hopeful of being accommodated in any of the nearby constituencies. Today, not only is there resistance from some of the existing leaders, but also competition from successors to these leaders. The leaders had been led to believe that the number of Assembly constituencies would increase following the delimitation exercise so much so that they all could be accommodated.  But, now are they are looking at alternatives since it is crystal clear that there will be no such exercise until the next elections. 

According to party leaders, former minister and Congress leader B Saraiah had joined the ruling TRS expecting a ticket from Warangal east or elsewhere. However, the ruling party sitting MLA Konda Surekha is firm on contesting from the seat and she is also pitching for a ticket for her daughter Sushmita Patel from the nearby Bhoopalapally constituency. 

Similarly, another Congress leader R Pratap, who had contested unsuccessfully from the Station Ghanpur Constituency joined TRS. Pratap was given the post of vice chairman of the Minority Commission, which he refused to take ostensibly to concentrate on contesting in the next election from the same constituency. 

The sitting MLA T Rajaiah had faced the ire of the Chief Minister and had lost the ministry and Pratap had eyes on the seat. However, in a blow to his aspirations, the Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari is planning to field his daughter Kadiyam Kavya.

The ruling party leadership had promised to accommodate the turncoats in some constituencies, hoping that the number of assembly constituencies would go up. However, with delimitation being ruled out by the Centre, at least for now, these leaders are thinking hard about their future. They hoped to find berth at least in nominated posts; but, even on that front the government has being going slow.  

The rudderless leaders now are holding discussions with their followers on what could be the best course of action in the months ahead. Should it be ghar vapsi? Or, should they look for alternatives like Telangana Jana Samithi, Jana Sena or BJP?