Over 250 seek Cong ticket for LS polls, VHR eyes Khammam seat

Hyderabad: After being routed in the assembly polls, it appears not many leaders from Congress are keen to contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, especially from constituencies such as Medak, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Zaheerabad.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Party (TPCC) has received only five applications from these constituencies. On the other hand, there was flood of applications from constituencies such as Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli and Mahbubabad. More than two dozen leaders submitted their applications from these constituencies.

In some constituencies, candidates who lost in the recently held assembly elections and those who could not get a ticket due to alliance with other parties, are now trying their luck. Among the most senior leaders, V Hanumantha Rao applied to contest from Khammam LS seat.

Applications were accepted from February 10 to 14. While the compilation was still on till Thursday late night, sources said about 250 aspirants across the state have submitted their applications.

TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy told TOI, “In the assembly polls, we received about 5,000 applications, both at District Congress offices and at Gandhi Bhavan. Now, we got about 250 applications.”

Party sources said that since there was no formal application fee for submitting applications, even non-serious candidates and constituency local leaders applied for tickets. For instance, as many as 20 Old City local leaders applied for tickets from Hyderabad Lok Sabha, where none of the senior leaders is willing to contest.

From India’s biggest LS constituency, Malkajgiri, about 10 candidates have expressed willingness to contest. Kuna Srisailam Goud, who lost from Quthbullapur assembly segment in assembly polls, sought a ticket from Malkajgiri. Former MLA from Malkajgiri, Akula Rajender, who could not get ticket from the constituency for the assembly elections, is seeking ticket. The party had assured him earlier to look his case sympathetically.

Former MP, Anjan Kumar Yadav, has asked for a ticket from Secunderabad LS seat, where five to six others also applied. Earlier, there were reports that former cricketer Mohammad

Azharuddin

will contest from Secunderabad. But he did not apply for the ticket officially. Nalgonda former MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who announced earlier that he would contest from Nalgonda, reportedly did not apply now. Interestingly, there were rumours that Sangareddy MLA, Jagga Reddy may quit Congress and join TRS, his wife Nirmala Goud sought ticket from Medak.