Congress high command okays Padmavathi's candidature

Hyderabad: The All India Congress Committee has finalised the candidature of N Padmavathi Reddy for the Huzurnagar Assembly bypoll.

The Congress high command issued the letter in this regard on Tuesday. Padmavathi is likely to file her nomination papers in this week.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi accepted the recommendation of PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy to field Padmavathi from the Huzurnagar Assembly seat.

Though a leader of old Nalgonda district Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy also made an attempt to secure the candidature, the high command was inclined towards Padmavathi Reddy. Kiran Kumar Reddy's candidature was supported by Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy.

Padmvathi is the wife of PCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and she represented Kodada constituency in the first Assembly election in Telangana. However, she lost from the same seat in the 2018 Assembly elections.

Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, former Leader of Opposition in Assembly K Jana Reddy supported the candidature of Padmavathi Reddy.

PCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy took the bypoll to Huzurnagar constituency prestigiously as it was vacated by him in this year.

Uttam who was elected from Huzurnagar in 2018 resigned to the post in consequent on his election from Nalgonda parliamentary constituency.

Uttam wants to retain the seat for the Congress and did not want to lose it to rival parties with political reasons. He also do not want anyone other than a person from his family to have stakes in the Huzurnagar by the time of next general elections to Assembly.

He may return to Huzurnagar in next general election to Assembly. This was the reason for opting for Padmavathi Reddy. Padmavathi Reddy would face Saidi Reddy of TRS in bypoll.

The BJP is yet to finalise its candidate. The bypoll would be a three cornered contest as the BJP emerged a strong force in the state after the Parliament elections.

Padmavathi Reddy, 46 year old former MLA, is a graduate of B Architecture from JNTU. She was active in politics since 1994 when her husband Uttam Kumar Reddy entered politics.

She was involved in all the election campaigns on behalf her husband. She took part in political activities since last 18 years and continued to mobilize women and youth groups to take part in social activities.