Putting an end to speculation on whether he would contest or not, former Chief Minister and Jai Samaikyandhra Party chief N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday fielded his brother from the Piler Assembly constituency rather than contest the election himself.
With Saturday being the last day of filing nominations, Kiran not filing his nomination either for Piler Assembly or any Lok Sabha seat, it is now clear that he will not be contesting the elections this time.
His decision left everyone surprised and rumour mills went agog that he left the battle fray fearing defeat. Kiran, however, said he would campaign for his party candidates and ensure their victory.
Since the schedule of Kiran’s visit to Piler was confirmed on Friday, his supporters and locals thought that he would go in a massive procession and file his nomination. The JSP chief went around Piler in an impressive procession along with his brother Kishore Kumar Reddy to file nomination. When everyone thought that it was Kiran who was going to file the papers, the announcement stunned them. “I am not going to contest the election and it is my brother who will be in the fray,” he announced, much to the shock of people.
Addressing the crowd, Kiran maintained that he decided to keep himself away from electoral contest for taking up a campaign for the cause of Samaikyandhra across the state.