Koppula Mahesh Reddy Jr makes inroads as Kutami dithers

Parigi: All eyes are on Parigi TRS candidate Koppula Mahesh Reddy, whose father Koppula Harishwar Reddy represented the constituency for a sort of record period of 25 years. According to party sources, as Harishwar Reddy is not in a position to contest December Assembly elections due to ill-health, high-command declared Mahesh Reddy’s candidature, who was serving as TRS Vikarabad district Rythu Samanvaya Samithi coordinator. 

Mahesh Reddy already started intensive poll campaign leaving no stone unturned for a victory. He turned Mahakutami’s (Grand Alliance) dilemma on deciding candidate into an advantage and campaigning the same in his tours. The GA consisting of Congress, Telugu Desam, Telangana Jana Samithi and CPI, may announce its candidates after Dasera festival. As part of seat sharing, if GA shows green signal to Congress, former legislator T Rammohan Reddy will once again contest. 

TDP leader P Chandraiah is expecting the ticket but, according to party sources, unfortunately there is not much of a cadre-base in the constituency. So, he doesn’t have any option other than to support the GA candidate.  BJP district president Karanam Prahlad Rao was in the race for a party ticket. As per the discussions in political circles, candidature of BC leader Kasani Jnaneswar Rao is also under consideration. But, decision makers in the party are tight-lipped. Bahajun Left Front (BLF) which has a secret understanding with CPI-M is yet to announce the candidate.  

14 elections in 62 years 

Parigi constituency formed in 1952, faced elections for 14 times.In one of the elections SJ Begum of Congress got elected unanimously. Harishwar Reddy got elected for five times and served as SFC chairman, Deputy Speaker and TTD Board Director. Kamatham Rami Reddy represented the constituency for three times, whereas Ahmed Sharif won elections two times and K Jaganmohan Reddy, Ramdev Reddy and T Rammohan Reddy represented it once respectively.