JOIN USAfter the last-minute rush for filing nomination papers on Wednesday, political parties in Telangana are waking up to the fact that a record number of rebel candidates have also filed papers for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Those who were lucky or managed to get party tickets made a beeline for the offices of the returning officers of their respective constituencies and filed nomination papers.
Those who failed to secure party tickets, either because they failed to impress or missed the bus due to electoral alliances, turned rebels and entered the fray as Independents.
According to information available, the Secunderabad Assembly constituency has received a record number of 39 nominations and Hyderabad 20 nominations this time, indicating that many might actually withdraw on April 12—the last date to take back nomination—if the parties succeed in convincing the rebels. Other trouble spots are Malkajgiri, Sirpur, Chennur, Mancherial, Karimnagar and Choppadandi, where nominations ranged from 30 to 40.
The problem is so intense that even TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had to cancel a public meeting and rush back to party headquarters to dissuade 12 known rebels. Veeriaiah Yadav had filed papers after being denied a TRS ticket for the Medak seat. Party MLA M Bikshapathy filed papers for the Parkal Assembly seat, as the party ticket went to someone else.