- Congress to announce candidate shortly
- Konda Surekha’s name in the final list
- Schedule for by poll likely in October 1st week
- BJP, TRS confident of win with huge majority
Huzurabad: Politics is heating up in the wake of Huzurabad by poll in Telangana. Major parties BJP and TRS are predicting their own victories. Exercise on selection of Huzurabad Congress candidate is over in the presence of TPCC in charge Manickham Tagore who will be leaving to Delhi on Saturday to take final permission from Sonia Gandhi before announcing the name.
It is clear with the internal surveys of both TRS and BJP that Eatala has slight edge over ruling party candidate so far. To counter the lead, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is coming up with various tactics like announcing Dalit Bandhu Scheme and taking Huzurabad as pilot project for its implementation. So far so good, but this pushed TRS supremo into trouble after Dalits across the state came forward with a demand to implement the scheme in Telangana within a period of 6 months.
Eatala Rajender’s supporters say that it is due to the resignation of their leader, Dalit Bandhu scheme and release of development funds in crores have happened. They are conducting a ‘Thanks giving’ meetings organised by Dalits. This is another worrying factor for TRS as their plan was reversed. These meetings are held thanking Rajender for achieving all these schemes.
TRS announced candidate Gellu Srinivas, who is a follower and a close aide of Eatala Rajender few days ago. He has good following in youth, but his chances of gaining votes are limited. Ministers Erraballi, Gangula, Balki Suman, main poll strategist for TRS, Harish Rao, Puvvada Ajay are trying their best to project their candidate. Interest loan wavier, distribution of sheep, all these are to gain votes of BC’s. But the pendulum is still swinging towards Eatala as of now. The internal survey by ruling party or by other private organisations shows full support for Rajender in by poll.
Congress party held meeting in the presence of TPCC in charge Manichkam Tagore with names belonging to BC, Sc and Reddy community put forward by Damodar Rajanarasimha for by poll. But it will be Konda Surekha to fight against TRS and BJP as per close sources in the Congress party. This will be the first litmus test for Revanth Reddy after taking charge as TPCC President.
However, the Huzurabad by-election schedule is likely to be delayed. Though the schedule was expected to come in August, that does not appear to be the case. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has written to all the recognized political parties in the country seeking their views on the conduct of the elections, in the wake of the Covid situation, within 30 days.
In this context, it seems that the notification is not likely to come until the 30th of this month. Huzurabad by-election is unlikely to be held till September 15. The by-election notification is likely in the last week of September or the first week of October, election officials indicated.
