KCR picks on DS in poll play

A battle of one-upmanship between the PCC chief, Mr D. Srinivas, and TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, is on the cards with both busily working out strategies for the Nizamabad Urban segment by-poll.

The TRS chief was heard commenting that the poll defeat would mark the end of the road for Mr Srinivas when it was learnt that the Telugu Desam might field one Mr Aleem, a prominent Muslim leader, from Nizamabad (Urban). That estimate changed overnight when the Telugu Desam chief, Mr Chandrababu Naidu, hinted that the party would instead field the MLC, Mr Arige Narsa Reddy, or another leader from the powerful Goud community. The TRS camp is now openly stating that the change in candidate shows that the PCC chief has an understanding with Mr Naidu.

Though TD is yet to announce the candidate from the segment, a change in candidates will certainly help Mr Srinivas who is desperate to make it to the Assembly.

Sources said Mr Srinivas has learnt his lesson from his 2009 defeat. When he heard that TD might field a Muslim candidate this time, he managed to persuade the party to change its mind. Mr Srinivas also put former minister Mr Shabbi Ali as a candidate from the neighbouring Yellareddy segment to please the Muslims.

The presence of 20,000-strong Reddy voters in the Nizamabad (Urban) segment would also be a cause of concern for Mr Srinivas as the community has generally voted against him in the past. If the TD fields Mr Narsa Reddy it will not cause any erosion of support to Mr Srinivas.

The case is similar with the Vysya community too. Mr Srinivas is busy trying to get in the good books of the community as he had earlier ruffled some feathers with his statement that he was going to be a “big man and get a big post’.

The Vysyas — traditionally a BJP votebank — assumed that he planned to oust the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who is from their community.

Sensing danger, Mr Srinivas had immediately corrected his statement stating that “big post” only meant deputy chief minister in Mr Rosaiah’s Cabinet. The PCC chief is also planning a meeting at Nizamabad to be addressed by Mr Rosaiah.

For his part, it is a prestige issue for TRS chief who wants to see all the 12 vacant seats going to the TRS-BJP kitty. He is now planning a series of road shows in the Nizamabad (Urban) segment.

Meanwhile, the Congress leadership cleared two more names on Monday for the July 27 bypolls in Telangana: Mr V. Krishna Rao for Huzurabad and Mr T. Srinivas Goud for Siddipet.

The party had named candidates to eight seats on Sunday. It needs to clear candidates for Korutla and Manchiryala. It is believed the party will clear these names by Tuesday.