Eyeing Congress, BRS dissidents, Telangana BJP keeps list on hold

Hyderabad: The Telangana unit of the BJP is slowly working on its second list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections – it is waiting to welcome Congress leaders who are disappointed at not getting tickets.

BJP’s strategy is to woo these leaders and field them as candidates. Senior BJP leaders have been identifying leaders, including dissidents from BRS and Congress, who have considerable influence in their respective areas and have sent them their views. These claimants and disgruntled leaders have reportedly sought ticket assurance from the BJP. They are willing to join the party, but only if these assurances are given before the formal announcement of the candidates.

BJP sources revealed that the saffron party’s election management committee chairman Eatala Rajender is scouting for potential candidates in the Congress to field him as BJP candidates in Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad, Nalgonda and other districts. Rajendra has prepared a list of such leaders which has been presented to the BJP central leadership for finalizing the candidates. It is expected that the election committee of the party will meet on October 31 and confirm the entry of these dissident leaders into BJP.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders are yet to confirm their participation in the assembly elections, triggering discussions about possible candidates in various constituencies. There is suspense over who will contest from Amberpet, Gadwal, Musheerabad, Khammam and other areas.

However, if rumors are to be believed, a BC leader may contest from Gadwal, and in Amberpet, it is uncertain whether Kishan Reddy will contest or not. If not, there is speculation about the candidature of senior BJP leader Gautam Rao.

For Musheerabad, the party appears to have a tough choice between Bandaru Dattatreya’s daughter Vijaya Lakshmi or former minister Mukesh Gaur’s son Vikram. Senior leader and former MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy is expected to contest from the Lok Sabha seat, while there is no clarity on the Assembly seat.