HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, also known as KCR and the head of the BRS party, surprised many when he declared his intention to contest from two constituencies in the upcoming assembly polls scheduled for November 30.
Despite being a dominant figure in Telangana politics since the state's formation in 2014, KCR, who currently represents the Gajwel assembly constituency in Siddipet district, has opted to run in addition from the Kamareddy constituency.
KCR's decision to contest two seats came in response to requests from leaders across several districts. He had previously announced BRS candidates for 115 out of the total 119 assembly seats on August 21.
In both 2014 and 2018, KCR emerged victorious from the Gajwel constituency, defeating his rival, Vanteru Pratap Reddy of the Congress, by substantial margins. Reddy, who had contested against KCR in both elections, subsequently joined the BRS and now holds the position of chairman of the state-run Telangana State Forest Development Corporation.
The BRS spokesperson, Sravan Dasoju, expressed confidence in KCR's ability to win both constituencies convincingly. He highlighted the significant development and progress that has taken place in Gajwel, with improved infrastructure and benefits from welfare programs implemented during the BRS regime.
However, it's worth noting that some residents who were relocated due to the Mallannasagar project in Gajwel had protested, claiming they did not receive adequate compensation. Dasoju contended that the BRS secured a major share of votes in the affected villages during the 2018 assembly polls and assured that no one was left out in terms of compensation.
The second constituency KCR is contesting from, Kamareddy, located near Nizamabad, will also be closely watched in the 2023 assembly polls. Currently represented by Gampa Govardhan of the BRS, Kamareddy has been his stronghold since 1994. In the 2018 polls, Govardhan defeated Mohd Ali Shabbir, a senior Congress leader and former minister, who had also served as the leader of the opposition in the legislative council.
KCR's son and BRS Working President, K T Rama Rao, expressed the party's commitment to develop Kamareddy into a model constituency. He cited the objective of providing irrigation facilities to every acre of agricultural land in the area as the reason for KCR's decision to contest there. Rama Rao emphasized that KCR was poised to become the first South Indian Chief Minister to achieve a hat trick in assembly polls, setting a record majority.
Despite the strong competition, Congress's Ali Shabbir expressed confidence in winning the election in Kamareddy. He noted that the attendance at Rama Rao's meetings in Kamareddy on October 7 was low, which he believed foreshadowed the election outcome.
Sircilla, Rama Rao's constituency in Rajanna-Sircilla district, is also under scrutiny due to his rising prominence within the BRS and beyond. Rama Rao has won elections in Sircilla in 2009, 2014, and 2018, as well as a by-election in 2010. Although he won by a narrow margin of 171 votes in 2009, he secured a significant victory in 2018, defeating his rival by over 89,000 votes.
Sircilla, known for its weaving community, has benefited from development funds and welfare schemes implemented by Rama Rao. However, K K Mahender Reddy, an independent rival who later contested on a Congress ticket, disputes these claims and believes that Rama Rao is not easily accessible to common people.
The Congress and BJP are yet to officially announce their candidates in Sircilla. The total number of voters in the Sircilla assembly segment is 2,40,904, with a nearly equal split between male and female voters.
Overall, these constituencies and KCR's decision to contest from two seats are generating significant interest as the Telangana Assembly elections approach.
(With agency inputs)
