Date:23/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/23/stories/2008112356890100.htm

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20 Congress MLAs vie for Lok Sabha seats in next polls

APCC president D. Srinivas is on top of the list of leaders

Anxious moments to the MPs seeking re-election
Geeta Reddy likely contender for Zaheerabad seat

HYDERABAD: At least 20 Congress MLAs, including Ministers, are in the race for the party ticket to the Lok Sabha, providing anxious moments to the MPs seeking re-election.

The name of APCC president D. Srinivas is on top of the list of party leaders eyeing the Lok Sabha ticket while there are six Ministers who have publicly evinced interest in seeking a shift to New Delhi.

As some MPs are also searching for alternative constituencies in view of the delimitation, the Congress high command has its task cut out in selecting its candidates.

The primary reason for the MLAs’ eagerness to go to the Lok Sabha is either the reservation of their constituencies for SCs or STs or the complete overhaul of the boundaries to the extent that their prospects of getting re-elected are next to nil.

Although Mr. Srinivas does not fall in this category, he has indicated his desire to contest the Lok Sabha election from Nizamabad. Housing Minister Botsa Satyanarayana (Cheepurupalli), whose wife Jhansi represents Bobbili in the Lok Sabha, is exploring the possibility of contesting for Parliament from Vizianagaram.

Jeevan for Karimnagar?

Commercial Taxes Minister Konathala Ramakrishna may be asked to contest from Anakapalli, the seat he represented earlier in the Lok Sabha.

Party sources say that Roads & Buildings Minister T. Jeevan Reddy may enter the fray once again from Karimnagar, a constituency that Government Whip D. Sridhar Babu is also eyeing.

Marketing Minister M. Mareppa sprang a surprise by announcing that he will not hesitate to contest the Lok Sabha elections while Major Industries Minister J. Geeta Reddy (Gajwel) and Cooperation Minister Md. Fareeduddin are likely contenders for the Zaheerabad Lok Sabha ticket.

Among the MLAs, S. Vishwaroop, a close follower of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is being tipped for the Amalapuram (SC) seat as G. V. Harsha Kumar is unlikely to be fielded due to his deep differences with Dr. Reddy. Vatti Vasant Kumar is nursing hopes of contesting from Narsapur constituency vacated by Praja Rajyam leader Ch. Harirama Jogaiah.

Komatreddy Venkat Reddy has set his eyes on the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat and Jalagam Venkata Rao is toying with the idea of entering the fray from Khammam, now represented by Union Minister Renuka Chowdary.

Two Congress MLAs Gangula Pratap Reddy and S. Mohan Reddy are vying for the Nandyal Lok Sabha seat.