Hyderabad: The TRS is mounting a serious bid to win over the Telugu Desam vote bank in the Kukatpally constituency, where the Opposition party has fielded N.T. Rama Rao’s grand-daughter Nandamuri Suhasini for the December 7 elections.
The police did not give permission for AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s road show in the constituency on Thursday. TS TD president L. Ramana said they had sought permission on Wednesday night, but police officials said caretaker minister K.T. Rama Rao was conducting a road show at the same place at the same time.
However, he got permission and held a road show on Saturday. The TRS has kept a close watch on the traditional vote bank of the TD in the constituency that is known to be dominated by non-TS origin voters, especially those from AP. Seven days ago, the Reddy community from AP declared its support to the TRS. Most of them are followers of YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Five days ago, TRS leader and Kukatpally incharge Gottumukkala Padma Rao quit the party and announced support to the TD candidate. In 2014, Mr Padma Rao had contested on a TRS ticket and lost to Mr Madhavaram Krishna Rao who was then with the TD but later shifted to the ruling party. The TRS has nominated Mr Krishna Rao. Both belong to the Velama community.
To recover from the impact of Mr Padma Rao’s resignation, the TRS moved swiftly to woo the 64,000-strong Kapu community whose support is crucial in Kukatpally. On Wednesday, some Kapu leaders announced their support to the TRS.
In 2014, a majority of the Kapu community members had voted for TD. this time there appears to be a split in the Kapu vote which would help the TRS to the disadvantage of the TD.
