TRS and Cong wait for others to table cards

It's a guessing game!

The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is keeping its cards close to its chest when it comes to releasing the list of candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state during phase one. The TRS might release its first list after Congress does the honours probably on Friday. The Congress, on the other hand, is taking time to select candidates with winning as the criteria after the recent debacle in the Assembly elections.

TRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will be holding meetings with members of parliament and LS candidates on Friday and Saturday at his official residence in time to release the list. So far, the names cleared by the party president include Boinapalli Vinod Kumar (Karimnagar), Kalvakuntla Kavitha (Nizamabad), Kotha Prabhakar Reddy (Medak), BB Patil (Zaheerabad), Bura Niarsaih Goud (Bhongir) and G Nagesh (Adilabad).

However, sources say that there will be few changes as KCR is unhappy with the working style of few MPs including Jitender Reddy, Ponguleti and Sitaram Naik. Former Home Minister Sabitha Indrareddy of Congress met KCR and sought Chevella MP Seat for her son Karthik Reddy. Malkajigiri, Khammam, Nalgonda are the LS segments under the keen review of the party president.

Meanwhile, aspirants are making a beeline to New Delhi as the lists are being prepared at the AICC office and General Secretary KC Venugopal's residence. Despite a few objections, the party is mulling on fielding party (TPCC) working president A Revanth Reddy from Malkajigiri. Reddy who has lost elections from Kodangal in the 2018 Assembly elections has been summoned to Delhi for talks.

Names of Konda Viswesara Reddy from Chevella, Nandi Yellaiah from Nagarkurnool, Madhu Yashki Goud from Bhongiri, Patel Ramesh Reddy and Komatireddy Venkatreddy are in scrutiny for Nalgonda Lok Sabha segments. The CPI (M) and CPI have decided to contest together in two places which might include Nalgonda and Khammam the strongholds of the left parties.

The BJP which is contesting from all the 17 seats is roping in the PM Narendra Modi and Party president Amit Shah at least in four places. PM will also address three meetings in Andhra Pradesh also.