Three Lok Sabha MPs in BJP's list of 52 candidates for Telangana polls

New Delhi: In its first list for Telangana, the BJP on Sunday announced the names of three sitting MPs including former state unit president Sanjay Kumar Bandi, Bapu Rao Soyam and Arvind Dharmapuri. It fielded campaign committee chief Etala Rajender from two seats.

Rajender will take on BRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao from Gejwel. The BJP also nominated controversial MLA T Raja Singh, who was suspended for his derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad. In 2018, he was the sole BJP MLA in the Assembly.

The names of 52 candidates for the 119-member Assembly were finalised at the BJP Central Election Committee meet on Friday under the leadership of party president J P Nadda. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also attended the meeting.

The party has fielded 12 women, continuing its push to woo women voters, especially after the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Soyam, the Adilabad MP, has been fielded in Boath while Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri will contest from Korutla. Bandi Sanjay Kumar will contest from Karimnagar.