TRS walks a tightrope in Khammam

Khammam: The much-awaited expansion of State Cabinet is expected to happen in the near future. The TRS leadership seems to be in a quandary over finalising Ministerial berths, especially from the erstwhile Khammam district.

Since the TRS strongman and R&B Minister in the previous Cabinet Tummala Nageswar Rao lost the election from Palair constituency, there has been a lot of speculation over the Cabinet berth.

It may be noted here that the TRS put up a disastrous performance in the erstwhile district. Barring Puvvada Ajay Kumar, who contested from Khammam, all the other nine TRS candidates failed to win either from Khammam or from Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts. The only solace being joining of L Ramulu Naik, who was elected as an independent from Wyra, in the TRS.

Against this backdrop, Puvvada Ajay Kumar seems to be the automatic choice from Khammam for Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to induct him into his Cabinet.

However, it is said that KCR is inclined to induct Tummala Nageswara Rao into the Cabinet despite the latter’s defeat in recent election. It may be recalled that TRS which has no foothold in Khammam district in 2014 was bolstered by the arrival of Nageswara Rao along with a host of people’s representatives of the Telugu Desam Party.

But in the changed political scenario and the emergence of Khammam Lok Sabha member Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy as a new power centre, it is speculated that Tummala’s charisma no more works in the district politics as he himself lost the election with eight others.

A TRS leader told The Hans India on condition of anonymity: “Truly speaking, Puvvada Ajay Kumar won because of his managerial skills. It is hard to claim that his party has brought any votes to him. People clearly voted against TRS in the district.

They didn’t even spare Tummala who worked for the development of Palair.” In this backdrop, the TRS leadership has a herculean task to strengthen the party in the erstwhile district, he added.

On the other hand, it is touted that Sathupally TDP MLA-elect Sandra Venkata Veeraiah is likely to join the TRS in the near future. Even though Sandra is reportedly demanding a Minister post, it is unlikely to happen. The TRS leadership which is keen to erase TDP in the State is likely to offer a plum post to Sandra, it is rumoured.

Meanwhile, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, who is representing the Graduates constituency of Khammam-Nalgonda-Warangal in the Council, is also in the race for Cabinet berth. There is an argument that he should be accommodated in the Cabinet as a people’s representative from Khammam.

Now with erstwhile Khammam district only being its target to conquer, the TRS leadership appears to be walking a tightrope in regard with finalising leader for the minister post. With the Gram Panchayat and Lok Sabha elections to follow in quick succession, it’s a tough task indeed for the TRS leadership.