KCR to Announce BRS Party Candidates in Two Phases, Aligned with Lucky Number Six

Hyderabad: BRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is all set to declare names of party candidates for the ensuing Assembly elections in two phases — 60 on July 24 and the remaining 59 candidates on August 24, both dates adding up to his lucky number six.

Almost all 14 ministers and the 16 MLAs, who switched over from other parties, are likely to get tickets in the first phase. That would account for 31 seats, including Rao himself. Sources said the party chief will have time to chop and change the list depending on the subsequent survey reports.

Rao was reportedly considering fielding new faces in opposition-dominated pockets. Sources said that he was not in favour of a pre-poll alliance with the Left parties as there is a massive demand for tickets within BRS in all constituencies.

It may be recalled that on the previous occasion, he had dissolved the Assembly on September 6 (his lucky number), 2018, nine months before its term was to end in June 2019, and declared the party candidates for 105 (adds up to 6) seats the same day. The EC released the poll schedule on October 6 and polling was held on December 7.

Sources said 20 MLAs in the ‘A’ category, who have topped the party surveys, will get a place in the first list. MLAs in the ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories will be considered for the final list.

Those in the ‘D’ category, with poor survey responses, would be denied tickets. Nearly 15 MLAs are said to be in the ‘D’ category.