MLAs eye Rural ZP chief post for their wives in Warangal

Warangal: Notwithstanding the stiff competition for all the posts, Warangal Rural Zilla Parishad (ZP) chairperson post appears to be most sought-after with too many top leaders are trying to grab the opportunity.

What is interesting is that two Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs – Peddi Sudarshan Reddy (Narsampet) and Challa Dharma Reddy (Parkal), and the latest entrant to the ruling party Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy – are reportedly lobbying for the Warangal Rural ZP chief post for their better halves.

With the Warangal ZP chief seat is reserved for General (Women), the three Reddy MLAs set their eyes to get the post for their wives. Interestingly, all the three candidates - Peddi Swapna, Challa Jyothy and Gandra Jyothy – have intensely campaigned for the victory of their spouses in the recent elections to the Assembly.

Peddi Sudarshan Reddy's proximity to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is well known. The duo's association dates back to the beginning of Telangana Movement. Peddi Swapna who has a doctorate from Kakatiya University (KU) is said to have political aspirations.

Swapna who organises Bathukamma festival celebrations annually on behalf of Telangana Jagruthi, founded by Kalvakuntla Kavitha, is well known in the Narsampet constituency. It's learnt that Swapna is likely to contest from Nallabelly Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) so that she would be in the race for Warangal Rural ZP chairperson post.

On the other hand, Parkal MLA Challa Dharma Reddy appears to be in dilemma to field his wife Jyothy from Shayampet ZPTC.

But the twist in the tale is that Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy who joined the TRS on Monday wants his wife Gandra Jyothy to contest from Shayampet ZPTC. The buzz in political circle is that Gandra had already got an assurance from TRS leadership that his wife Jyothy would be made the ZP chief.

Gandra Jyothy has been active in politics for many a year and in fact she held the post of DCC president of Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district.

It's said that Gandra Jyothy who is eyeing the ZP chief post shifted her base to Shayampet mandal in Warangal Rural district from Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district. In fact, she had already applied to register herself as a voter in Shayampet mandal of Warangal Rural district, a few days ago.

"With Gandra family defecting to TRS, the political equations are likely to change in Warangal Rural district. In all probability, Gandra Jyothy is the frontrunner for the post. Even though, the others leaders have aspirations, understandably they will just wait for the TRS leadership's word and oblige it as final," a senior TRS leaders told The Hans India.