Kalvakuntla Kavitha files papers for MLC poll

Hyderabad: Former MP and daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, on Wednesday filed nomination for the Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from Nizamabad constituency under the Local Authorities Constituency.

Kalvakuntla Kavitha filed her nomination papers as TRS party candidate for the Nizamabad Local Bodies MLC election at Nizamabad District Collectorate. Kavitha was accompanied by Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy and TRS MLAs from erstwhile Nizamabad district, party leaders and cadre.

Early on Wednesday, Kavitha called on Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy at his residence in Minister's Quarters in Hyderabad along with Minister Prashanth Reddy and other MLAs of Nizamabad district.

The TRS leader was blessed by the veda pundits at her residence. After taking blessings, Kavitha left for Nizamabad to file nomination papers. She filed her nomination at District Collectorate in the afternoon.

On her way to Nizamabad, Kavitha was given a grand welcome along the National Highway 44 highway from Kamareddy to Nizamabad. Party workers and leaders garlanded her along the route at Kamareddy, Indalwai and Dichpally.

The Ministers, including KT Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, E Dayakar Rao, Satyavathi Rathod, MP J Santosh, former MP B Vinod Kumar and other MLAs congratulated Kavitha for filing nominations for the Council.

It may be mentioned here that Kavitha lost to Dharmapuri Arvind of BJP in Lok Sabha elections last year. Since then she was not seen in active politics. Though her name was heard for Rajya Sabha, the party decided to give the posts to K Keshava Rao and KR Suresh Reddy.

According to sources, the TRS chief wanted to ensure the party gets this seat given the scope of cross voting by the local body representatives. By declaring Kavitha, the party leadership has ensured there is no rebel candidate and the ministers would take the responsibility of victory of the Telangana Jagruti president.

Meanwhile, Legislative Affairs Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy said that Kavitha would get elected to the Council as the TRS party had numbers. There are 824 votes in the local bodies and TRS has 532 votes.

The MIM also has some votes which would be polled in favour of Kavitha. The Congress has 140 votes and BJP has only 85 votes. This is enough for the victory of Kavitha, said Prashanth Reddy.

The polling for the local body MLC polls would be held on April 7 and counting will be taken up on April 9.