MLC elections: Acid test for TRS bigwigs

Hyderabad: The Teachers MLC election, scheduled to be held on March 9, is proving to be an acid test for ministers and other TRS leaders. The biennial election to TS Legislative Council from Mahbubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad district Teachers' constituency has assumed significance with the TRS leaving no stone unturned to win. Ministers, legislators and other leaders are camping in the three districts and taking up extensive campaign to garner the support of teachers.

The TRS, which is on a roll by winning all elections in the state since it came to power in June 2014, had tasted defeat for the first time in March 2015 when it lost Graduate MLC election. The party is making all possible efforts to avoid a repeat of such an embarrassment. TRS trouble-shooter T. Harish Rao has been assigned the task of ensuring victory of K. Janardhan Reddy, the candidate supported by the party.

While TRS leaders are holding meetings in the three districts with teachers, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been showering sops on teachers. However, the government’s failure to extend the sops promised earlier has led to resentment among the teachers, a cause for concern in the TRS. The party is banking on the split in anti-government vote for its victory. TRS MLC and Government Whip in the Legislative Council Palla Rajeshwar Reddy said, “There are nearly 23,000 voters. Our candidate  will easily get 12,000 votes and the rest will be split.” while the remaining 11,000 votes would be divided by the other 11 candidates. This would ensure our victory.”

Chief Whip Paturi Sudhakar Reddy said, “The CM has promised to scrap contributory pension scheme and restore the old pension system. The long-pending demand of upgrading Language pundits and PETs to School Assistants has been met. The CM has agreed to pay 9-month PRC arrears in cash soon, besides handing over all retirement benefits to staff on the last working day itself. All these are being welcomed by teachers who are supporting the TRS.”

However, candidates supported by the Opposition Congress, BJP, Left parties are banking on the resentment among teachers over TRS government’s failure to pay 9 months of PRC arrears, scrapping CPS and neglecting regular government schools to set up residential schools. They are campaigning that they would lose their jobs in regular schools if that happens.