Race hots up in Congress for Rajya Sabha seat

With 48 hours left for the filing of nominations for the two vacant Rajya Sabha seats from Telangana, Congress leaders have begun last minute lobbying in a big way to bag the ticket.

A long list of 16 Congress leaders from various communities are hoping to get the nod from the party high command. Indications available suggest that one seat will be given to present Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi as per the direction of the party’s central leadership. The terms of Mr. Singhvi from the Congress and K. R. Suresh Reddy of the BRS end this month.

“The race is for the other seat and a clear picture is likely to emerge tomorrow only,” a key TPCC functionary said on Tuesday night even as the lobbying to seek the ticket continued frantically.

Notable names doing the rounds is that of former RS member V. Hanumantha Rao, former Nizamabad MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Dr. Vinay, son for former Union Minister P. Shiv Shanker, and ex-MLA Eravatri Anil from the Backward Classes. Mr. Hanumantha Rao has served as Rajya Sabha member for over two decades while Mr. Madhu Yaskhi Goud as the chairman of the Campaign Committee has been active.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy it is understood has strongly backed the name of Advisor to Government Vem Narender Reddy while AICC secretary and CWC special invitee Challa Vamshichand Reddy is also in the reckoning among the Reddy leaders. Other leaders from the community include T. Jeevan Reddy, Rohin Reddy, M. Kodanda Reddy and G. Chinna Reddy.

It is believed that Dr. Vamshichand Reddy enjoys the patronage of the central leadership. He lost the Mahabubnagar parliamentary seat by a low margin and has been accessible to the high command.

Leaders from the SC community aspiring for the high command’s nod include former Alampur MLA Sampath Kumar and Dommat Sambaiah and Bellaiah Naik from the ST community. Telangana Women’s Commission chairperson Nerella Sharada is also a strong claimant from the women category while Advisor to Government, Welfare Md. Ali Shabbir, Faheem Qureshi, a close aide of Chief Minister, and Md. Azmathullah are also in the race.

Party leaders point out that last year, the party chose Anil Kumar Yadav, BC leader and former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary from the State. “Going by the central leadership’s choice last year, this time, one ticket will either go to a BC or a Reddy,” a senior leader remarked.

In the meantime, Chief Minister is likely to visit New Delhi tomorrow. The TPCC chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud too is expected to reach Delhi in the event of a call from the central leadership.

Election for the two seats will be held on March 16.