KARIMNAGAR: BRS brought into forefront Padi Koushik Reddy in Huzurabad in a bid to halt the winning streak of former minister and BJP MLA Etala Rajendar as part of its “Operation Huzurabad” a few months ago. Ruling party working president K.T. Rama Rao himself announced that Padi Koushik Reddy will be in-charge of the ruling party affairs in Huzurabad.
BRS also went on to allot an MLC seat to Koushik Reddy under the MLAs’ quota. Upping his authority, it made him chief whip of the ruling party in the Telangana Legislative Council.
The exercise has turned out to be a case of “Operation successful but patient died”, as the MLC has got involved in several controversies. He insulted a farmer during Telangana decennial celebrations, used foul language against the Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, demolished martyrs’ statue and abused people of Mudiraj community. He has turned out to be a headache for BRS leadership.
Even party leaders like Adilabad MLA Jogu Ramanna have openly criticised Koushik Reddy’s behaviour, commenting that such leaders in the party will bring a bad image to BRS. The final nail turned out to be the report of intelligence department against the MLC.
BRS leadership has thus decided to field either former minister Enagala Peddi Reddy or Husnabad MLA V. Satish Kumar from Huzurabad to give a tough fight to Etala Rajendar Reddy to snatch the assembly seat from him in the forthcoming assembly general elections.
Peddi Reddy has won two consecutive times from Huzurabad constituency – 1994 and 1999 on TDP ticket. He has a good network within the constituency. Peddi Reddy joined BRS just before the Huzurabad by-polls. But he has not been given any prominent post till date. The ruling party gave MLC post to L. Ramana, who joined the party along with Peddi Reddy.
It is learnt from BRS circles that given the situation prevailing in Huzurabad constituency, the party leadership has asked Peddi Reddy to focus on Huzurabad constituency. Following this, Peddi Reddy has asked his supporters to search for a house in Huzurabad headquarters, so that he can launch his political activities in the constituency.
Alternatively, it may ask Husnabad sitting MLA V. Satish Kumar to contest from Huzurabad in case BRS forms an alliance with left parties in the forthcoming elections. Left party leaders are keen on Husnabad. In that case, BRS would like to make it easy for Satish Kumar, son of Captain Laxmikantha Rao, a close associate of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, by fielding him from Huzurabad.
Meanwhile, Pingili Prashanth Reddy, native of Kamalapur mandal who earlier worked as circle inspector in Jammikunta, is also showing interest in contesting from Huzurabad. Prashanth Reddy had got into national limelight by playing Jana Gana Mana on loudspeakers at 8 a.m. every day, so that everyone would stand still as a mark of their patriotism. Prashant Reddy has created a WhatsApp group and is trying to attract people of the constituency. His supporters are also distributing pamphlets among people in the constituency, promoting his candidature from the Huzurabad assembly constituency.
