BJP facing headwinds; rivals at a loss

Musheerabad: With BC candidates dominating the centre-stage, the December elections is turning into a tricky situation for parties trying out permutations and combinations in the constituency. According to political analysts, there is a strong support for the local candidate. But as of now, state BJP president Dr K Laxman is the only official contestant when compared to other key political parties. 

Constituency in-charge Muta Gopal and caretaker home minister Naini Narasimha Reddy’s son-in-law, Ramnagar corporator Srinivas Reddy are said to be the main contenders for TRS ticket. As far as Congress is concerned, according to the party sources, Youth Congress state president, former Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav’s son Anil Kumar Yadav is the lone aspirant.  TDP GHMC president MN Srinivas Rao is expecting the ticket, if the Grand Alliance agrees to allot the seat to the party. 
Local journalist M Narasaiah is expecting candidature from Telangana Jana Samithi. 

According to political analysts, a storm appears to be brewing as two aspirants are seeking TRS ticket. Muta Gopal, who was defeated in the hands of Dr K Laxman (BJP) in 2014 elections with a margin of 27,386 votes, has been maintaining a strong hold on the party activities in the constituency. He is also serving as TRS BC cell state president. Muta Gopal tried hard to get party ticket in the elections held in 2004, 2008 (by-poll) and 2009, but it went to BJP as part of poll understanding between the two parties. 

He got a chance to contest in 2014 elections on TRS ticket but then Narendra Modi wave combined with TDP alliance, turned favorable to Dr K Laxman and Muta Gopal failed to enter the newly-formed Telangana State Assembly. Though he has been eyeing on the ticket, he always tried to show his loyalty to the party, by saying that he will abide to TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao’s decision. According to the party sources, the other aspirant Srinivas Reddy is a new face in the constituency, who is totally banking on the support of his uncle Narasimha Reddy, who is a labour leader with a mass following. After elected as corporator, he has been trying to get hold on the constituency. 

According to political analysts, Naini’s slip of tongue about KCR’s proposal to allot funds for his contest from LB Nagar constituency in the last elections put the party in an embarrassing situation and that became a negative factor for Srinivas Reddy in getting Musheerabad ticket. In recent times, there was a rumour that the caretaker home minister was going to join Congress but Naini categorically rejected it and said that he will abide to KCR’s decision on party candidate to Musheerabad. According to political analysts, delay in announcement of candidature leads to lot of differences among the the party cadre in the constituency. 

K Laxman who won the seat in 1999 and 2014 elections has been facing dissent from local party cadre. Sources said he was least bothered about the development of the party at ground level and always distanced himself from activists. As both the Grand Alliance and TRS are yet to announce their candidates, lot of speculation is rife over the candidates and their winning chances. Political pundits predict that Gopal is sure to win if he manages to get the ticket and if Srinivas Reddy joins the fray, either the Congress or the BJP might trump. In the scenario if the Grand Alliance opts for TDP, then BJP is sure to win.

BY Bodike Manohar