The by-election to Dubbak assembly seat to be held in November is all set to throw up an interesting battle, as both the Congress and the BJP are going to test their fortunes.
Initially, Telangana Rashtra Samithi leadership was planning to field Solipeta Sujatha, wife of deceased MLA Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy, whose death on August 6 has necessitated the by-election to Dubbak.
It was supposed to be a safe game, as the TRS was hoping to cash in on the sympathy factor. Moreover, local minister T Harish Rao, who has a tremendous goodwill in Siddipet district in which Dubbak falls, has been extensively touring the constituency showering benefits on the voters.’
However, surveys reportedly revealed that all is not well with the TRS in the constituency.
While the anger among the people over Mallannasagar project is said to be one reason for the negative talk for TRS, the family of Solipeta also does not have much sympathy among the voters.
Even the TRS party workers are said to be unhappy over the candidature of Solipeta’s wife or son. This was basically because Solipeta, when he was alive, had encouraged groupism in the party during the local body elections last year.
As a result, TRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is learnt to have developed second thoughts over giving party ticket to Solipeta’s wife.
The name of former minister late Ch Muthyam Reddy’s son also came in for consideration, but the party workers are said to be opposing him.
Now, according to the latest talk, KCR is said to be considering the candidature of IAS officer and Siddipet collector Venkattram Reddy, who has a very good reputation in the district including Dubbak.
Reddy, too, is said to be keen on entering politics and in the past, he had even tried for the TRS ticket from Husnabad assembly constituency.
Several times in the past, KCR himself has invited the IAS officer to join the TRS. There were instances of KCR calling Reddy a real people’s representative, because the latter always mingles with the people.
So, if Reddy enters the electoral battle, it will be an interesting battle in Dubbak, say observers.
