JANGAON: After much opposition from within, the words of encouragement and support from TRS leader KT Rama Rao would have come as a relief to the pink party’s troubled Station Ghanpur candidate Thatikonda Rajaiah. But it looks like the relief is only temporary as Rajaiah is set to face stiff competition in the December 7 polls from a rebel TRS candidate in the form of Rajarapu Pratap.
Only recently, KT Rama Rao, who is also the IT Minister in the caretaker government, came in support of Rajaiah and persuaded acting deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari to announce his support for Ghanpur candidate.
But local TRS strongman Rajarapu Pratap, who was aspiring for Station Ghanpur ticket, left TRS and joined Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Pratap is most likely to be given Ghanpur ticket by BSP and that makes Rajaiah’s chances of winning the seat even more difficult. Rajarapu Pratap, who has a good following in the constituency, is likely to gain from opposition to Rajaiah’s candidature within the TRS party.
It is learnt that more pink party leaders would be joining Rajarapu Pratap, who it is expected that he would launch an all out attack on TRS and Rajaiah.
Meanwhile, the political observers think that it will be battle between Rajaiah and Pratap for Ghanpur seat as Congress’ prospective candidate Vijay Ramarao does not have much presence in the constituency. Pratap’s departure from TRS has left Rajaiah to depend on Kadiyam Srihari’s support.