Congress takes on the might of TRS : Warangal

Warangal: Unlike the previous election to the Legislative Council seat under Warangal Local Authorities' Constituency that ended on a unanimous note in 2015, this time around the electoral battle is not left alone for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). While the Congress' Engala Venkat Ram Reddy is trying tooth and nail to seize the seat from the TRS, which fielded Pochampally Srinivas Reddy, popularly known as Vaikole Srinivas Reddy, there are three independents also testing their luck in the polling to be held on May 31. Interestingly, TRS and Congress candidates hail from Parkal region in Warangal Rural district.

It may be recalled here that there was no contest for the seat in 2015 as there was none to confront Konda Muralidhar Rao, the TRS candidate then. After differing with the ruling TRS just ahead of Assembly elections in 2018, Konda resigned from the post, thus necessitating the ongoing by-election to the Council seat.

Even though the numbers favour for its candidate apparently, the TRS is taking no chances and it seems to be well ahead in poll management. As a precautionary measure, the party leadership started a camp for the corporators, councillors and members of zilla and mandal parishad territorial constituencies (ZPTCs and MPTCs) in Hyderabad a fortnight ago and later sent them to hill stations in other States.

It's said that the Congress can utmost command the support of around 170 members in a total 902 electorate.

Even though majority of electorate are in the grasp of the TRS, the Congress pinned its hopes on consensus vote, the party sources say. On the other hand, the TRS leadership is claiming to have the support of more than 700 including ex-officio members. Even though it has formidable numbers at this stage, the TRS leadership wants to ensure its candidate's win without any problem.

"With the term of ZPTC and MPTC members to end on July 5, a whole lot of them have pinned their hopes on a tight contest for obvious reasons. This could be one last chance for them to reap in some sort of bonanza from the contestants. Along with the ZPTC and MPTC members, the corporators and councillors have also had a fun in exotic locations," a senior TRS leader told The Hans India.

It's learnt that all the members had returned to Hyderabad spending almost a fortnight in the camps. The TRS leadership had also conducted a mock polling for them, sources say. These members are expected to descend straightaway on Warangal on May 31 to exercise their franchise.

Meanwhile, the district administration has made arrangements for the polling through ballot in 10 centres spread across new districts - Warangal Urban, Rural, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Mulugu and Bhupalpally. It's learnt that there would be no 'NOTA' (none of the above) for the Council poll.

The names of independents the poll fray are Annarapu Yakaiah of Mahabubabad district, Thakkallapally Ravinder of Narsampet in Warangal Rural district and Rangaraju Ravinder of Warangal city.