Jangaon ZP polls, an acid test for Muthireddy

Jangaon: The tussle for Jangaon ZPTC is seen as mother of all contests among the ongoing three-phased Parishad polls, simply because it involved two political stalwarts of the district – MLA Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy and Gadipally Premalatha Reddy, who recently resigned from municipal chairperson post – interestingly both belonging to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). What that made the contest intriguing is their long-standing rivalry and the political one-upmanship.

Premalatha was one of the top leaders of the Telugu Desam, when she joined the TRS before the 2014 elections. While Muthireddy was elected as the MLA, she went on to become Jangaon municipal chairperson. Even though both the leaders are sailing in the same party, the harmony was never there between them, in fact they don't even see eye to eye, it's said.

Against this backdrop, Premalatha Reddy, who is confident of securing the Zilla Parishad chairperson post, which is reserved for General (women), resigned from municipal chairperson post after Parishad polls were announced. She also filed her nomination for Jangaon zilla parishad territorial constituency (ZPTC). It's learnt that Premalatha Reddy has also got her name enrolled as a voter in her native village Chitte Kodur so that she could be in line for ZP chief post winning Jangaon ZPTC.

This is where political drama has begun with the TRS denying ticket to Premalatha Reddy. It's alleged that Muthireddy played a key role in denying ticket to his arch rival and giving it to Nimmati Deepika. Fury over the development, Premalatha Reddy stayed in the fray as a rebel candidate. Following which, the TRS mandal unit suspended her from the party. This apart, Muthireddy group had allegedly tried to blame Premalatha Reddy accusing her of occupying the land of poor in Chitte Kodur village. But Premalatha Reddy's followers refuted the MLA group's accusation stating that the said land is in the possession of government and their leader has done nothing wrong.

Even though she believes that the MLA had allegedly hatched a conspiracy to thwart her political growth, Premalatha Reddy appears to be confident of winning the Jangaon ZPTC and furthering her ambition of becoming ZP chairperson post. It's said in the local political circles that she has the support of several senior TRS leaders in the erstwhile Warangal district.

"The Jangaon ZPTC election has become an acid test for Muthireddy who is determined to ensure victory for Nimmathi Deepika by defeating rebel Premalatha Reddy and Congress' Kotha Kavitha," a senior TRS leader told The Hans India. Even though the MLA is trying his level best, ruling party cadre which is vertically split is causing jitters to him, he added. The polling for Jangaon ZPTC which is spread over 21 villages will be held on May 10 as part of second phase.