Congress big guns join hands, out to wrest Huzurnagar seat

Hyderabad: The byelection of Huzurnagar Assembly constituency has united the seniors of the Congress party as they have been fighting against the ruling TRS to win the poll.

Congress seniors including TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, former leader of opposition in Assembly K Jana Reddy, Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and his brother and Munugodu MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, all hailing from the old Nalgonda district have joined hands to win the bypoll.

They have been supporting Congress candidate N Padmavathi Reddy in the election. Already Jana Reddy has participated in the campaign along with Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Venkat Reddy and Rajagopal Reddy have been providing support. Apart from them leader of CLP in Assembly Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, other MLAs of Congress and few senior leaders have extended their support.

They may participate in campaigns after the end of time for filing nomination papers.

Nalgonda has been witnessing faction politics for the past few years. The factions, one led by Uttam and Jana Reddy, and the other led by Komatireddy Brothers have been fighting with each other. Rajagopal Reddy has been demanding removal of Uttam as TPCC president.

However, the Huzurnagar bypoll has brought them together. Congress leaders said that prevailing conditions in the party have brought the seniors together. They said that the Congress wants to win the Huzurnagar constituency for various reasons.

A win in the byelection would help the Congress boost the morale of the party's rank and file. In the backdrop of defection of few MLAs, the win would prove that people were with the Congress.

The Nalgonda leaders want to show the ruling TRS that this part of the State is a bastion of the Congress and it could not be captured so easily, and Congress continues to enjoy the support of old Nalgonda district.

TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy is quite serious to win the seat as victory would help strengthen his position. Uttam is challenged by few leaders of the party and he may lose the TPCC president post if loses the Huzurnagar election.

The TPCC president may not have a say in the selection of the new president if the Congress loses Huzurnagar bypoll.

At the same time if the Congress wins the seat, Uttam can dictate terms in the party in selecting the new president for the TPCC.