KHAMMAM : The bypoll for the Palair assembly seat, scheduled for May 16, is unlikely to be a cakewalk for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which hopes to hold its winning streak.
While the Congress has fielded Sucharitha Reddy, wife of former MLA Ramreddy Venkat Reddy, expecting a sympathy wave, the TRS is riding high on development agenda. Though the TRS, Congress and CPM are locked in a triangular contest, it will be a direct fight between the Congress and the TRS. The TDP has extended its support to the Congress while the BJP and YSRC have decided to stay away from the contest.
The TRS has fielded roads and buildings minister Tummala Nageswara Rao as its candidate and has deputed four ministers to lead the campaign.
Venkat Reddy, who was elected thrice from Sujathanagar and twice from Palair, had maintained a good rapport with the electorate and more particularly with tribals, who constitute a major section of voters in the constituency. The Congress is trying to expose the failure of TRS government to develop the district.
In the 2014 election, the TRS fared poorly and its candidate, Ravella Ravinder, could get only 4,041 votes.
The ruling party, which managed to win only one seat from the district in 2014 due to lack of support at the grassroots level, has gained strength by luring one MP and three MLAs of YSRC and two MLAs of the Congress from the district into its fold.
Also, by fielding Nageswara Rao, a Kamma, the TRS is aiming to garner the votes of the community which has a considerable presence in the district.
Revanth to Campaign for Congress
TTDP working president A Revanth Reddy will campaign for the Congress on May 11 and 12. He will tour Cheruvumadharam, Kusumanchi, Beerolu, Peddatanda, Gollapadu and Patarlapadu villages.
Palair Constituency
Covers four mandals of Kusumanchi, Tirumalayapalem, Nelakondapalli and Khammam Rural
Voters
1,90,285
Men
93,547
Women
96,720
Voting
May 16
Counting
May 19