HYDERABAD: Acting quick on their feet, both Congress and Telugu Desam Party on Wednesday announced their second list of candidates, with 10 and 2 names respectively. The names were released after extensive a vetting process since both parties have had to contest with dissent within them over the allocation of seats and allotment of tickets. While Congress announced its second list in the morning, after hectic parleys in Delhi, TDP announced list with two candidates in the night. As Monday is the last day for filing nominations, even the third lists of Congress and TDP are likely to be released on Thursday.
While firebrand P Vishnuvardhan Reddy has been given Jubilee Hills constituency, chief spokesperson Dasoju Shravan, who rose to fame within the party by translating Rahul Gandhi’s speeches, was given Khairatabad constituency.
Thus Congress retained both the seats with it, even though TDP had bargained for one of them. Senior leaders Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Marri Shashidhar Reddy got a raw deal even in the second list, giving credence to the speculation that Telangana Jana Samithi chief Kodandaram might contest from Jangaon constituency, which was represented by Ponnalain the past.
Sama Ranga Reddy has been given Ibrahimpatnam constituency while Ganesh Gupta has been roped in for Rajendranagar constituency. With 75 Congress contestants, 11 TDP contestants and 3 CPI contestants being finalised, a clarity has dawned on who will take on TRS on behalf of Grand Alliance in most of the constituencies. Senior leader Gandra Venkat Ramana Reddy has been given his traditional seat Bhupalpalle.