Congress scouting for strong candidates

Hyderabad: With an objective to win the three MLC seats from Local Authorities Constituencies, the Congress has begun preparation and is scouting for strong candidates. The Election Commission has issued notification for the elections to three MLC seats from the Local Authorities Constituencies of Warangal, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda.

The Congress objected to holding elections while the polls for Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) are still on. While the first phase polling in ZPTCs and MPTCs was held on Monday, the second and third phase polling are yet to be held. The elected members of ZPTCs and MPTCs are voters in the Local Authorities Constituencies. The party questioned the rationale behind announcing the schedule while the polls for the local bodies are being held.

Though the Congress party registered its opposition to holding elections with the old voters list, it is making preparations to give a fight. The party may approach the court against the EC's decision. But if the court rejects party's petition, it has to face the polls.

According to party leaders, the Congress may field former MLAs Malreddy Ranga Reddy or T Rammohan Reddy from Ranga Reddy and TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy or Komatireddy Laxmi Reddy from Nalgonda. Former MLA Konda Surekha may be fielded from Warangal constituency.

The Congress leaders said that there are bright chances for the party to win the Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy seats. Ranga Reddy district has 812 votes and Nalgonda has 1110 votes. Warangal has about 904 votes.

The Nalgonda seat was won by the Congress in the elections held in 2016. The Warangal seat was represented by Konda Murali who is now with the Congress. Murali won the seat unanimously in 2016 polls.

The elections were announced as Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, Konda Muarli and Patnam Narendar Reddy resigned to their posts. Their term would end in 2022. TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the party would move the court against the notification to conduct the polls. He said that by end of this month new voters list would be in place as the polls to the ZPTCs and MPTCs would be completed.