Rebel trouble haunts Mahakutami

​Hyderabad: As expected, the Congress and its coalition partner Telugu Desam Party are facing rebel trouble after the announcement of partial lists of candidates.

The Congress announced the first list with 65 names on Monday sparking strong dissent among several leaders who have expected to get the tickets from the grand old party. The leaders who did not find their names in the first list also expressed their anger and preparing to oppose the party nominees if their candidature was not confirmed in the second list.

Even former PCC president Ponnala Laxmaiah expressed dissent over not clearing his name in the first list and rushed to Delhi to seek clarification. Party leaders said that his name was not announced as Telangana Jana Samithi has been seeking Janagaon seat for its party president Kodandaram. 

Laxmaiah has represented Janagaon in the past and is seeking nomination from here. He went to Delhi on Monday morning and enquired about the ticket with AICC leaders. 

Later in the evening, the TJS has announced that it would not seek the Jangaon seat. Congress official spokesperson Krishank expressed deep dissatisfaction over the announcement of ticket to his father-in-law and former Union minister Sarvey Satyanarayana from the Cantonment segment. He made it clear that if he was not given the ticket he would contest as an Independent.

Congress former MLA from Serilingampally constituency Bhikshpathi Yadav has threatened to contest as an Independent as the seat was allocated to the Telugu Desam Party. He held a meeting with his followers to discuss the action plan after the announcement of the first list. Warangal West leader N Rajendar Reddy continued his stir opposing allocation of the seat to the Telugu Desam. He said that he too was ready to file papers as an Independent if the seat is confirmed to the TDP.

Former minister S Vijayarama Rao was sore over not getting the ticket for Station Ghanapur. The Congress announced the name of Dr Indira. Ch Mutyam Reddy was angry with the party for not giving the Dubbaka ticket. Bolla Mallaiah Yadav of Kodad constituency expressed deep dissent over giving the ticket to Congress nominee N Padmavathi Reddy. He said he would resign from the party.

Though the ticket was not announced, the Congress and TD leaders of LB Nagar constituency are seething with anger. Congress candidate D Sudhir Reddy has been opposing allocation of the seat to the Telugu Desam and threatening to contest as an Independent. TDP aspirant from here Sama Ranga Reddy is also demanding the seat and threatened to contest as an Independent if the ticket is allocated to the Congress.

Anirudh Reddy who aspired for the ticket from Jadcherla was angry with the party for announcing the ticket to Mallu Ravi. Aravind Reddy was serious about not giving ticket from Mancherial. Charulatha Rathod has been dissenting the proposal to give ticket to Ramesh Rathod from Khanapur constituency. Narayana Patel of Mudhole was not happy with the party for denying ticket. 

Balmuri Venkat who wanted the ticket from Peddapalli announced that he would resign from the party. Former MLA of Tandur Narayana Rao also resigned protesting against giving ticket to Rohit Reddy. Party leader Addanki Dayakar is camping in Delhi seeking ticket to him from Tungaturthi. Followers of Manohar of Vemulawada constituency have resented allocation of ticket to Srinivas. Warangal District (Mahila) Congress president Padma said that she would contest as an Independent.

In Telugu Desam Party too, all is not well. Senior leaders of the party have threatened to fight as rebels.  LB Nagar Assembly constituency in-charge Sama Ranga Reddy met party president L Ramana and protested against allotting of the seat to the Congress.

The TDP too announced the first list comprising 9 candidates late on Monday.  TDP senior leader Nama Nageshwara Rao will  fight from Khammam, R Prakash Reddy (Warangal West),  S Venkata Veeraiah (Sattupalli),  K Dayakar Reddy (Makthal),  Erra Shekhar (Mahbubnagar), T Veerendar Goud (Uppal),  B Ananda Prasad ( Sherlingampally), M Nageswara Rao (Ashwaraopet) and Mujafar Ali Khan will contest from the Malakpet segment. 

Ramana pacified Ranga Reddy and assured him that due recognition with good post will be given to him once Mahakutami comes to power in the state.  The unrelenting TDP leader told the party that he will file the papers as TDP rebel and fight election. 

TDP’s Kodad Assembly segment in-charge B Mallayya Yadav has decided to fight against Congress candidate N Padmavathi Reddy as rebel. Sources said that Yadav may join the TRS soon if he got good offer from the party. Palvai Rajani Kumari also opposed allotting the Nakrekal Assembly seat to the Congress. She is demanding Tungaturthi seat.  She is one of the strong TDP leaders in old Nalgonda district.

Senior TDP leaders are also vying for tickets from various Assembly segments where Mahakutami candidates are yet to be announced. Senior leader E Peddi Redy locked horns with his own party leader M Srinivas.  TDP leader Kuna Venkatesham Goud is demanding Sanath Nagar seat. But, Congress leader M Shashidhar Reddy is not ready to give up the seat.