Several Congress leaders yet to stake claim for Lok Sabha seats

Hyderabad: Prominent Congress leaders such as AICC secretary Madhu Yashki Goud, former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdary, former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy and TPCC campaign committee chairperson and former MP Vijayashanthi have not applied for a Congress ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The deadline for submitting applications seeking a Congress ticket ended on Thursday.

According to TPCC sources, more than 300 applications were received for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, averaging 18 from each.

Prominent leaders of the Congress who did apply for tickets include AICC secretary and former MP V Hanumantha Rao (for Khammam), MP from Nagarkurnool, Nandi Yellaiah (Nagar-kurnool), Chevella MP Konda Visweswar Reddy (Chevella), former Union minister Balaram Naik (Mahabubabad), former MP Mallu Ravi (Nagar-kurnool), former MLAs Komatireddy Venkata Reddy (Nalgonda) and M. Kodanda Reddy (Bhongir) and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy (Khammam).

Madhu Yashki, a former MP from the Nizamabad parliamentary constituency, wants to contest from his own constituency. Ms Vijayashanthi wants to contest from Khammam or Bhongiri. Former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy has openly said in the past that he will contest from Mahbubnagar, and former Union minister Renuka Chowdary wants to contest from Khammam. But these politicians have not applied for a Congress ticket. TPCC sources said that they are confident the party's central leadership will consider their names for parliamentary tickets without their having to apply.