Nizamabad: Opposition keen to stop unanimous election

Nizamabad: The Opposition parties are gearing up to announce their candidates and to file nominations as soon the ruling TRS announces its candidates for the by-polls to Nizamabad Local Authorities MLCs. The Opposition parties are collecting the details of councillors, corporators, MPTCs and ZPTCs, who won on their respective party tickets to take their support in filing nominations. Even they are ready to issue whip if needed.

Meanwhile, the ruling TRS has not yet confirmed its candidates and the leaders of joint Nizamabad district have intensified their efforts and meeting Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and urging to give a chance to them, as three days left for filing nominations.

There are 824 voters in the local bodies in the joint district. Only one nomination was filed on Tuesday. TRS candidate Narsing Rao Machareddy filed nomination. The election notification was announced on March 13 and the last date for filing nominations is March 19. Even independents are not willing to file nomination as they need 10 supporters and also voters only have to propose the candidates.

Of the total 824 voters, 537 are MPTCs, 49 ZPTCs, 238 councillors and corporators. Congress has 142 voters, including 54 in Nizamabad and 88 in Kamareddy district. BJP has 78 voters in Nizamabad and 12 in Kamareddy. 30 MPTCs are independents and the remaining 562 are MPTCs, ZPTCs, councillors and corporators of the ruling TRS.

Though Congress and BJP haven't announced their candidates, two candidates each from Congress and BJP are ready to file nominations – one candidate on party ticket and another as independent. Their plan is if the candidate contesting on party ticket withdraws his nomination then the B form will be given to the independent candidate.

The Opposition parties main aim is to see the local bodies elections will not become unanimous as they worry about the problems that may arise in the villages in the next four years if the TRS wins unanimously in the elections. Both the parties are planning to field senior leaders in the fray.

On the other hand, the TRS leaders, confident of winning the elections as there are more their party voters in the joint district, are trying for MLC ticket. Though the MLC post lasts for 20 months only, they hope that this will pave way for a bright political career in future. The ruling party leaders are expecting MLC ticket will be given to the candidates belonging to BC or Minorities since Rajya Sabha, Markfed, DCCB bank chairman posts were given to Reddy community leaders.

But the doubt among the leaders is whether castes will be considered in allotting tickets or not as TRS chief KCR announced Rajya Sabha candidates beyond everyone's' guess.

While a few leaders are expecting that Reddy community leaders will get the chance as Bhupathi Reddy, who was disqualified, belongs to the same community. Leaders in Kamareddy district are requesting to give the chance to them at least now as Nizamabad has three MLC seats after district reorganisation.

The TRS leaders informed that KCR may announce candidates for MLC elections on Wednesday. The MLC by-elections may not be unanimous as the ruling TRS expecting, based on the present situation in the district.