Date:25/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/25/stories/2008042551130300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Byelections: what happens later?

S. Harpal Singh

ADILABAD: What course will be opted by respective parties on Congress winning the Adilabad Lok Sabha and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) winning the Khanapur Assembly seat in the ensuing byelections? Will such a win force A. Indrakaran Reddy of the ruling party and Rathod Ramesh of the opposition party to vacate their currently held positions as Nirmal MLA and Zilla Parishad chairman respectively and also force another round of byelections?

Come to think of it what will T. Jeevan Reddy, R & B Minister and in-charge of Adilabad district, do in case he wins the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat. These are hypothetical questions being discussed in coffee shops here and will find definite answers only after the results of the by elections are announced. However, in the event of the situation coming true, the two political parties will be faced with a piquant situation.

‘Cannot excuses’

They will not be able to accuse Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leadership of unnecessarily necessitating elections by tendering resignations of party MPs and MLAs. The announcement of candidates to the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies by the Congress and TDP for the constituencies in Telangana districts was reason enough for people to indulge in informal discussions on the subject. Over a cup of coffee, people ponder over likely situations. Also discussed is the expenditure that will be incurred by the candidates and the Government.

The run up to byelections also includes preparations being made by political leaders from grass root level onwards. They have begun augmenting their resources in terms of money and manpower. Anticipating a very close fight in the election they have taken the plunge without wasting time.

Besides exploring assumed possibilities, the common man in Adilabad is also making preparations for the byelections. The small time activist is busy in gravitating towards the party of his choice. He does so in search of the lucrative political employment during the period of the elections.