BRS Out to Tame Rebels Ahead of Releasing List of Candidates

HYDERABAD: The BRS leadership is putting in place a micro-plan to control damage likely to be caused by sulking MLAs and ticket aspirants in the event of denial of tickets for the upcoming elections. The buzz in party circles is that the performance of 25 MLAs is not up to the mark and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is seriously toying with the idea of replacements.

There are several strong contenders in each Assembly constituency. It is expected that after the party comes out with its list of candidates next week, those who missed the bus could jump over to other parties or enter the fray as rebels.

Sources said that Chandrashekar Rao had decided to set up a committee of senior leaders, including ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao, to reach out to the ‘disgruntled’ leaders and pacify them with promises of nominated posts.

The BRS leadership is concerned that the disgruntled leaders could dent the party prospects. With expectations of a tough triangular contest, the BRS leadership feels that the winning margins will be narrow and rebel activity may mar its hat-trick dreams.

Legislators like Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy (Jangaon), T. Rajaiah (Station Ghanpur), Shankar Naik (Mahabubabad), Methuku Anand (Vikarabad), Rekha Naik (Khanapur), Dasari Manohar Reddy (Peddapalli), Korukanti Chander (Ramagundam), Bethi Subhash Reddy (Uppal) and Kaleru Venkatesh(Amberpet) are already resorting to a show of strength amid reports that they would be denied re-nomination.

In some constituencies, local leaders are issuing statements that they would defeat the MLA if the party leadership gave a ticket to non-performers.
The BRS leadership is expected to announce the first list of candidates on August 23, mostly comprising good performers. The party expects the second list to fuel rebel activity.