Tussle for one-upmanship puts TRS, Congress in tight spot

Hyderabad: Sentiment has subsided, power seems to have gone into heads of leaders and piggish desire for more power appears to have opened up a can of worms for both the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the main Opposition Congress in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district.

While the TRS leadership is at sixes and sevens due to the increasing number of ticket aspirants, internal squabbles and group politics seem to be dogging the Congress in every Assembly constituency in Mahbubnagar district, putting the leadership of both the parties on tenterhooks ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Amid the intensified group politics in the Congress, senior leaders S Jaipal Reddy and DK Aruna recently joined hands while the relatively new entrants A Revanth Reddy and Nagam Janardhan Reddy are busy to consolidate their positions. There seems to be a cold war in the TRS among senior leaders and the recently joined ones from the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

As the elections are approaching fast, differences between the leaders are intensified. They are also vying with each other in showing their might in public with an intention to grab the attention of the State leadership and get party tickets in the next elections.

Erstwhile Mahbubnagar district, consisting of 14 Assembly segments, is set to play a key role in deciding the winners in the next elections and for that matter, TRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has been paying special attention on district politics. He reportedly already entrusted Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao the responsibility of luring more leaders from the Congress.

It may be recalled that in 2014 elections, the TRS won seven Assembly seats, the Congress 5 and the TDP secured two seats. However, the TRS tally has been increased to nine with Congress MLA CH Rammohan Reddy (Makthal) and TDP legislator Rajendar Reddy (Narayanapet) joining the ruling party.

Trouble began for the TRS with the mass exodus of leaders from the Congress and the TDP in all most all Assembly segments. TRS candidate from Narayanapet in the last elections Shivakumar Reddy is in touch with the Congress ever since sitting TDP MLA Rajendar Reddy switched loyalties. The Congress is ready to offer party ticket to Shivakumar.

Similarly, Makthal TRS in-charge Devara Mallappa is said to be unhappy for neglecting him after Congress MLA Rammohan Reddy joining the pink party. In Alampur, recently joined TDP leader Abraham is giving a tough time to senior TRS leader Manda Jagannadham’s son Srinath, who lost elections in 2014.

In Achampet, former minister P Ramulu is giving jitters to sitting TRS MLA G Balaraju. Sources in the TRS said Chandrashekar Rao was inclined to field Ramulu as Balaraju failed to impress people. Recently joined Congress leader E Krishna Reddy from Kalwakurthy is also vying for a party ticket in the same constituency.

In the Congress, while DK Aruna is unhappy with the increasing domination of Jaipal Reddy who was instrumental in bringing Revanth and Nagam Janardhan in the Congress fold. Opposing the joining of Nagam, Aruna's close aide and MLC Damodar Reddy joined the TRS.

As the TDP weakened, Chandrashekar Rao is understood to be holding secret talks with TDP senior leaders Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy and Dayakar Reddy to invite them to join the TRS. Congress leadership is also in touch with them.

Analysts said internal squabbles in the Congress helped Chandrashekar Rao to consolidate his party in the Reddy dominated district. The only tough challenge before the TRS is to identify the winning horses among the long list of aspirants vying for tickets in every segment in 2019 hustings.