KHAMMAM: The Palair byelection campaign has come to an end on Saturday ahead of the polls scheduled to take place on Monday.
The bypoll was necessiated due to the untimely demise of sitting Congress MLA and Public Accounts Committee chairman Ramreddy Venkatreddy.
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 election had become inevitable in spite of best efforts by the Congress to ensure that it was unanimous. The TRS fielded roads and buildings minister Tummala Nageswara Rao as its nominee.
Political analysts say it may not be a cakewake for either TRS or the Congress.
Both the parties have campaigned vigorously and covered every nook and corner of the constituency.
TRS is of the view that the government’s slew of development and welfare initiatives will steer the party candidate to victory.
It has deputed several ministers to lead the campaign hoping to hold its winning streak.
The Congress on the other hand is depending on the traditional vote bank and sympathy votes. It is trying to expose the failure of TRS government to develop the district.
Though the ruling party is confident of wining the seat, there is a resentment among local leaders that they were neglected.
One local leader who did’t want to be named said the leaders who participated in Telangana movement were neglected by the party leadership and importance was given to those who joined th party recently from other parties.
In the 2014 election, the TRS fared poorly and its candidate, Ravella Ravinder, could get only 4,041 votes. Congress party has 30,000 to 45,000 traditional votes in the constituency.
There are 1,90,452 voters in the constituency. Officials have made elaborate arrangements for the byelections.