Come what may, I will be in poll fray: Naini Rajender Reddy

Warangal: With the political scene reaching a crescendo elsewhere shifting to Delhi for the last few days, the political heat picked up in Warangal West constituency with the aspirants from within the Congress and those belonging to alliance parties making a last-ditch effort for the ticket.

Even though it is difficult to gauge the political developments about 1,500 km up north in Delhi, the grapevine surrounding seat- sharing and candidatures that is kept changing like weather forecast has made the aspirants jittery.

With the slugfest for Warangal West reaching new heights between the Congress and its alliance partner – Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Congress leadership which is supposed to announce the candidate on November 9 appears to be in a tight spot. Barring West seat, the candidatures for the other constituencies in erstwhile Warangal district are more or less fixed, according to party sources.

Warangal District Congress Committee president Naini Rajender Reddy, who has been loyal to the party for over three decades, is touted as the frontrunner for the Warangal West seat. It may be recalled here that former Congress MPs V Hanumantha Rao (VH) and Sarvey Satyanarayana have openly supported the candidature of Naini Rajender Reddy during the ‘Praja Chaitanya Yatra’ early this year.

Further VH in a veiled attack against Vem Narender Reddy, close associate of A Revanth Reddy who is also aspiring for the Warangal West ticket, said that new entrants have to wait for their turn.

Against this backdrop, the followers of Rajender Reddy on Thursday have gone berserk with the rumours spreading that Warangal West seat has been allotted to TDP. Even though some leaders tried to pacify them not to believe the rumours, the cadre raised slogans demanding that the leadership give Warangal West ticket to Rajender Reddy who has been loyally working for the party for decades.

Speaking to The Hans India, Rajender Reddy said: “I have faith in party leadership which assured me of ticket based on my loyalty, seniority and workmanship and there is no need to worry about ticket.” AICC President Rahul Gandhi had been saying that there would not be any space for parachute candidates. Moreover, Rahulji had promised to giving weight to the voice of party men, he said.  

When asked about what his reaction would be if he was not given party ticket, he said: “Come what may, I will be in the poll fray. I reiterate that I have faith in leadership.”