Scramble for new mayor begins

Warangal: After a lull of nearly five weeks, it’s lobbying time again, and the TRS corporators are at it earnestly. They are leaving no stone unturned to grab the Mayor post that fell vacant after the resignation of Nannapuneni Narender, who got elected as MLA from the Warangal East constituency in the recent elections to the Assembly. Even though the Deputy Mayor Khaja Sirajuddin was appointed as the in-charge Mayor of the city some three weeks ago, it’s seen as a stop-gap arrangement.

The TRS leadership which is otherwise engaged since it scripted a resounding victory in the Assembly elections is finally shifted its focus on to fill the Mayor post of Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC).  

In the fray for the coveted post are corporators Vaddiraj Ganesh (division 27), Gunda Prakash Rao (division 26), Gundu Aashritha Reddy (division24), Dasyam Vijay Bhaskar (division 50) and Nalla Swaroopa Rani (division 47), this is in addition to the present in-charge Mayor Khaja Sirajuddin (division 41).

The Brahmin community which has been feeling letdown over their meagre representation in the lawmaking institutions has a strong case for Vaddiraj Ganesh, a senior advocate who has been with the TRS party since its inception.

On the other hand, the Women Cooperative Finance Corporation chairperson and former Rajya Sabha member Gundu Sudharani is lobbying hard to see her daughter-in-law Aashritha Reddy as the Mayor.

Nalla Swaroopa Rani, sister of TRS State joint secretary Pochampally (also known as Varikol) Srinivas Reddy, is also touted as a strong contender for the post. The three-time corporator/councillor Gunda Prakash Rao who belongs to Vysya community which has a large population in Warangal has also tossed his hat in the ring for the post. 

Dasyam Vijay Bhaskar, the younger brother of Warangal West MLA Vinay Bhaskar, is also leaving no stone unturned to clinch the post, according to party sources.

Khaja Sirajuddin, the first time corporator who was made the Deputy Mayor to woo the Muslim community which has a sizable population in the city, is confident of making it to the post as a natural successor.

Against this backdrop, it is learnt that TRS working president KT Rama Rao who closeted with Warangal West MLA Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, Warangal East MLA Nannapuneni Narender and Wardhannapet MLA Aroori Ramesh in Hyderabad on Friday, had a lengthy discussion to finalise the Mayoral candidate.

It is also reported that he also spoke to Station Ghanpur and Parkal MLAs Thatikonda Rajaiah and Challa Dharma Reddy over phone about the selection of the candidate. KTR is likely to refer the names of probables to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao leaving the decision to the latter.