Congress sees surge of ticket seekers

Kothagudem: With the passage of time, the Congress party is witnessing a surge in number of aspirants to fight election on the party ticket in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts. Many applications were received only in the last few days, said party sources. 

As many as 65 applications have been received for the ten constituencies of the erstwhile Khammam district which also include Kothagudem district. The highest numbers of applications were received for the Yeallndhu constituency, the sources said.

Segment wise five each applications for Khammam, Aswarao Pet, Kothagudem, Paleru Assembly segments were received, Wyra -4, Bhadrachalam – 3, Pinapaka – 2, Sathupally -02, and Madhira only one application was received so far. Among the applicants also is Mallu Batti Vikramarka who is the publicity chairmen of State Congress party.

As many as 32 applications have been received in the Yellandu constituency which has been the Congress’ party’s pocket borough for several years. In 2014 elections it had won this seat. After that the sitting MLA left the party and joined the TRS party.

The TRS party has given the ticket to the sitting MLA K Kanakaiah.  In that constituency, senior party leaders, lawyers, MPPs, retired Singareni Collieries Company Limited employees, and others have show interest to contest on the party ticket.

Though the Congress is contesting the elections in alliances with the TDP, TJS and CPI, the aspirants are mainly seeking ticket from the Congress only. But the party will have to make some sacrifices to make adjustment with the alliance partners and lose some seats. It will be interesting how the aspirants react. 

Bhukya Dhal Singh, who is the senior leader and contested as Congress candidate in 1991, got second place and in charge of the party in Yellandhu, said he hope that the party will give him the ticket definitely.

Another aspirant who is the interested to contest in Kothagudem, hopes that the party will definitely field him in the election.  The party has hold in Kothagudem Assembly segment so the party will win in the election, the aspirants said.

In both districts Khammam and Kothagudem had ten assembly segments. In that five segments are ST, two SC and three are in General.