Congress veterans eye Khammam LS seat

Hyderabad: With the heightened tension prevailing between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror strike, resultant IAF strike on JeM terrorist training camp inside Pakistan territory and the neighbour targeting military installations on our side of the border, political developments are taking quick turns at the national level. It is learnt that the Congress has decided not to announce its candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections until the situation returns to normal.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee had shortlisted the names of candidates and submitted the list to the AICC Screening Committee. However, the list seems to give preference to candidates who were defeated in the recent Assem-bly elections. Leaders like Mr Ponnam Prabhakar, Mr Vamsi Chand Reddy, Mr Mallu Ravi, Mr Ramesh Rathod, Mr Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Mr Balaram Naik lost the recent Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, there is intense competition for the Khammam Lok Sabha segment as seniors are trying hard to grab it.  Congress senior leaders Ms Renuka Chowdary, Mr Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, V. Hanumantha Rao and businessman Gayatri Ravi, are trying hard for the ticket. Though there are seniors in the field, TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and AICC In-Charge of Tela-ngana state Congress affairs R.C. Khuntia are supporting Mr Gayatri Ravi.

The TPCC has almost zeroed in on a single candidate for a few constituencies. Among them are Mr Madan Mohan Rao, son-in-law of minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao from Zaheerabad constituency. The Cong-ress has almost decided on Mr Konda Vishweshwar Reddy from Chevella, who joined the Congress from theTRS recently. The others are Mr Ponnam Prabhakar for Karim-nagar, Mr Gali Anil Kumar for Medak, Mr Vamsi Chand Reddy for Mahabubnagar and Mr Vijaya Kumar Madiga for Warangal.

There is a competition in other constituencies too. Mr Vara Prasad and Mr Satyanarayana are competing for the ticket from Peddapalli constituency. In Nagarkur-nool constituency, Mr S.A Sampath Kumar, Mr D. Satish Madiga and Mr Mallu Ravi are competing for the ticket.   Sitting MP of Nagarkurnool, Mr Nandi Yellaiah is out of the race due to the age factor. Party sources say that Mr Sampath Kumar has more chances than the others. Mr Soyam Bapurao and Mr Ramesh Rathod are in competition for the Adilabad ticket.

Senior Congress leaders Mr Patel Ramesh Reddy and Mr Komati-reddy Venkat Reddy are trying hard for the Nalgonda ticket. Former MP Madhu Yashki has applied for both Bhongir and Nizamabad constituencies. Mr Madhu Yashki is competing with Mr R. Sarvotham Reddy in Bhongir and Sudharshan Reddy in Nizamabad. Though Mr Yashki earlier contested from Nizamabad, he is a native of Ibrahimpat-nam Assembly constituency that falls in Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency. TRS MLC Ramulu Naik is facing heat as Mr Balaram Naik is also requesting the AICC for the Mahbuba-bad ticket. Meanwhile, Mr Kuna Srisailam Goud and Mr K. Laxma Reddy are fighting for the Malkajgiri ticket.