Pro-TRS Cong MLAs face 'pink' resistance

Hyderabad: Differences have cropped up between TRS leaders and the Congress MLAs who recently joined the ruling party in the finalisation of candidates to contest as ZPTC members as both the groups wanting their candidates to be given priority.

According to party sources, the TRS leaders have locked horns with the new entrants particularly the MLAs in the districts in wake of the ZPTC (Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency) and MPTC (Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency) elections.

According to sources, the issue of differences came to fore in the districts during the election time. Sources said that the TRS leader and former Yellareddy MLA E Ravinder Reddy wanted B-Forms to be given to his followers.

However, the present Congress MLA who has pledged support to the TRS is also demanding tickets to his followers. The MLA is claiming that though he is elected on a Congress ticket, he has been in Telangana agitation and his followers should get tickets for the local body elections, said a senior TRS leader.

Similar is the case from Mahbubnagar district where sources said that former minister J Krishna Rao and B Harshavardhan are said to be at loggerheads and both leaders want B-Forms to be issued to their followers. Sources said that the issue was brought to the notice of TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

ZPTCs are important posts politically as the candidates winning are eligible to become ZP chairperson of the district. The post of ZP chairperson is equal to that of a Cabinet rank and hence the leaders want the plum post with themselves and call shots in the districts.

The TRS president, during a meeting of important leaders of the party, announced that it would be the MLAs who would decide about the candidates for the ZPTC and MPTC elections.

The notification for the first phase election was issued on Monday and the polling would be held on May 6. With leaders locking horns in the districts, the party leadership has plunged into action.

Sources said that the party seniors have informed the leaders that the tickets were being finalised by the party president and they would be informed who would be the candidates.