Is it going to be local, non-local fight for Khammam LS seat?

​Khammam: With the Lok Sabha elections just a couple of months away, the leaders of the district from various parties are pinning their hopes on the Khammam Parliamentary seat. While there is a sense of excitement among common people as to which local leader would get the party ticket, the non-local candidates are trying to throw their hat in the election ring for the Khammam MP seat. 

When it comes to Congress, most of the candidates who contested the Khammam Parliamentary constituency were non-locals and this time too many non-locals want to try their luck. It may be recalled that the Khammam MP seat draws huge attention as many of those who won the elections in past were given place in the Central cabinet. Further, the Congress has been hoping to clinch victory as the Mahakutami candidates won more seats in the elections recently held to the State Assembly.

Former Rajya Sabha Member V Hanumantha Rao, star campaigner Vijayashanti, former cricketer Azharuddin, former Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chaudhary and Congress Working President Revanth Reddy, all close to AICC president Rahul Gandhi, are eyeing the ticket. Meanwhile, Gayatri Ravi, who lost the Warangal East seat in the recent Assembly election, has also started lobbying for the ticket. Konda Surekha, who lost from Parakala seat is also lobbying in Delhi to get the Khammam MP ticket. 

Former MLA Dhonthi Madhava Reddy from Narshampeta constituency in Warangal district is also in the queue. Another leader who is trying to win the party ticket is MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy. It is learnt that recently at a meeting of Telangana Congress leaders in New Delhi, Sudhakar Reddy had reportedly told Rahul Gandhi that he would be able to win with a huge majority if given a chance. Similarly, Nama Nageshwar Rao is trying to get party ticket if Telugu Desam and Congress declare their alliance. 

When it comes to Telangana Rashtra Samithi, pink party leader Pidamarthi Ravi has been openly inviting the party president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to contest from Khammam parliamentary seat and rebuild the party which was hit due to cold war between the present MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and former minister Tummala Nageswara Rao. Ravi feels that group politics in the district would end if KCR contests the post. Meanwhile, Srinivas Reddy and Tummala are leaving no stone unturned to secure the party ticket. However, KCR is yet to announce his decision in this regard.