TJS readies to contest 12 seats

​Hyderabad: In a surprise development, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) on Wednesday evening announced that it would be fielding candidates in 12 segments, including some where its alliance partners Congress and TDP had already announced their party nominees. The TJS list also includes Jangaon seat, for which former TPCC chief and minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah is lobbying personally with Congress high command for last two days in New Delhi. Unless any of the parties back off in the next few days, friendly contest within Mahakutami parties inevitable in some of the segments.

The 12 segments include Malkajgiri, Amberpet, Warangal (East), Wardhannapet, Station Ghanpur, Jangaon, Miryalaguda, Mahbubnagar, Siddipet, Medak, Dubbaka and Asifabad. Initially Congress announced that TJS would be contesting eight seats, but TJS’s fresh announcement caught political circles off-guard.  While Congress declared candidates for Asifabad and Station Ghanpur already, TDP is testing its luck in Mahbubnagar and also set its eyes on Warangal (East). With TJS entering the fray now, these segments are likely to have multiple contestants from parties within Mahakutami. 

When asked whether TJS was contesting on its own and whether there are cracks in Mahakutami, TJS leaders Prof PL Vishweshwar Rao and G Venkat Reddy said that their party was very much part of the alliance along with Congress, TDP and CPI.

G Venkat Reddy, TJS spokesperson said that party chief M Kodandaram spoke to Congress and TDP to leave four constituencies to it. He expressed hope that alliance parties would concede to their demand. P L Vishweshwar Rao, TJS vice-president said that now that constituencies have been finalised, they would sit and hold discussions to zero in on party candidates in a day or two. 

Meanwhile, TJS functionaries have readied party office in Jangaon notwithstanding lack of clarity over allocation of seat. Congress is yet to give its clearance to TJS chief Prof Kodandaram to go ahead and file nomination in view of Ponnala's meetings with AICC members seeking an assurance on ticket.  TJS leaders’, however, exuded confidence that Ponnala might withdraw from the race eventually.