The worst fears of the Congress Party in Telangana seems to be coming true! The Party, which fears possible trojan horses in its ranks received the first hit in the face with a senior Party leader leaving it to join the ‘Pink’ brigade!

Former unified Andhra Pradesh Speaker and senior Congress Party leader K R Suresh Reddy joining the Telangana Rashtra Samithi will surely be a bad omen for the grand old party of Indian Politics which is working overtime to evoke confidence among its cadre and leaders across Telangana State.

Suresh Reddy’s announcement to join TRS, in the presence of KTR, who is being seen as the Chief Minister-in-waiting is likely to have a negative impact on the morale of the Congress party, which is scrambling to make-up to the lost time in identifying the right candidates to contest polls on the Party ticket.

Now, the Congress Party would be on the vigil to identify more such trojan horses, who might desert the Party at crucial moments or work against its interests during the ensuing Assembly Elections.

As the poll bugle sounded by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is getting shriller with each passing day, the opposition parties (excluding the BJP and MIM) are leaving no stone unturned to make use every option they have.Soon after dissolving the Telangana Assembly, KCR took everyone by surprise by announcing the TRS candidates for 105 Assembly segments.

It is learnt that opposition parties in Telangana are planning to form a grand alliance to fight the poll battle against KCR. For the first time in the TDP’s history of 36 years, the party is reportedly coming forward to join hands with the Congress to form alliance. This has surprised everyone.

According to political pundits, the TDP, the Congress, Professor Kodandaram’s Jana Samithi and the Communists may come forward to form an alliance in the elections.Of 119 Assembly seats, the Congress will be fielding 90 candidates while the rest will be given to the others. It is learnt that the TDP is seeking 20 seats while the Congress is ready to offer just 15. Jana Samithi may get five to nine Assembly seats to contest.

The plan and agenda of the grand alliance is intended to defeat KCR. As part of this, the Congress and the TDP planning to form an alliance. By keeping party priorities aside, the parties have decided not to be too adamant during consideration of seats allocation.

The TDP believes that it has firm grim in a few constituencies in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal, Warangal and Khammam.

Huzurnagar constituency’s TRS incharge and Srikanth Chary’s mother Dasoju Sankaramma has become emotional. She said she would take extreme step if she is not given the party ticket from Huzurnagar. She said she was promised the ticket by KCR, KTR and added that she is expecting that they would do justice to her.

Sankaramma, 49, was given TRS ticket in 2014 from Huzurnagar. However, she was defeated by Congress candidate Uttam kumar Reddy. Now, specualtions are rife that an NRI is aspiring for TRS seat from Huzurnagar and this said to have upset her. She is getting emotional and is stating that she would die in the next 10 minutes if Huzurnagar ticket is not offered to her.

Earlier, a drama unfolded in Hyderabad when two of her aides one Veeranjaneyulu (Miryalaguda) and another Nagu (Huzurnagar) had climbed Radio Station tower demanding that Shankaramma should be given Huzurnagar ticket.Shankaramma’s son martyr Srikanth Chary had claimed his life first for the separate statehood. Demanding separate state of Telangana, he had immolated himself by setting himself ablaze near LB Nagar on Nov 29, 2009. He succumbed to severe injuries and died on Dec 3, 2009.

Of all the 105 candidates KCR declared for the coming general elections, only two sitting MLAs were shown the door. One is Andole MLA Babu Mohan and the second is Chennur MLA Nallala Odelu. As dissent is growing among them, KCR personally called on both Babu Mohan and Odelu. He has asked them to meet him at his farm house.

Both Babu Mohan and Odelu have went to KCR’s farm house where KCR told to have explained them the reasons and reportedly assured them of compensating with some key and nominated posts. It was learnt that the duo was promised either MLC or any other key nominated post and both the leaders are said to be convinced with KCR’s assurance.

On the other hand, KCR & Co have been trying to pacify the unhappy leaders. PJR’s daughter Vijaya Reddy who had expected Khairatabad constituency is said to be very unhappy after she was denied ticket. TRS leaders are trying to convince Vijaya Reddy.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan Reddy, who is upset over not getting Uppal ticket has left to Bangalore along with his close friend. Top leaders in TRS are discussing the issue and took up the matter to KCR. If KCR gives his nod to change Bethi Subash Reddy, Ram Mohan would be given the chance. Meanwhile, TRS leaders are also preparing Bethi Subash Reddy for the changes. If Bonthu Ram Mohan gets the Uppal ticket, the vacant Mayor post is likely to be given to Keshava Rao’s daughter Vijaya Lakshmi. However, Keshava Rao wants his daughter Vijaya Lakshmi or his son Venkata Rao to be given Khairatabad seat.

Also, discussions are going on over Danam Nagender’s relentless attempts to get Khairatabad seat. TRS top leaders are weighing various options on to accommodate whom.With reports of Konda Surekha’s exit from TRS and likely to join Congress, TRS party wants to field Basavaraju from the party in Warangal East. Basavaraju Saraiah was present at Husnabad meet.

Choppadandi MLA Bodiga Sobha was also present at Praja Ashirwada Sabha in Husnabad. Meanwhile, there is a good competition for Malkajgiri Assembly seat. Sitting MLA Kanakareddy’s daughter-in-law Vijaya Santhi, MLC Mynampally Hanumantha Rao, Malkajgiri MP Mallareddy are all expecting the seat. Even there is a lot of curiosity over Medchal and Vikarabad constituencies. It is buzzed in TRS circuits that these seats may be filled with the leaders who join TRS from other parties.

On the whole, KCR & top party leaders are busy holding deliberations with ticket aspirators and trying to convince the others who are not getting tickets.

KCR during the press conference after submitting resignation of his and his cabinet colleagues to Governor ESL Narasimhan said, there will be a ‘friendly contest’ in the Assembly segments of Hyderabad where the incumbent is a MLA of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.

This ‘friendly contest’ in seven seats of Hyderabad might possibly help divide the anti-MIM Vote Bank and help the MIM candidates win comfortably over their close rivals contesting on a Congress party ticket!

According to a Congress leader from Charminar Assembly Constituency, who did not wish to be identified said, “KCR is playing dirty politics to help his friends from MIM win in the Old City region of Hyderabad; and these friends will help prevent Muslims Votes in other districts of Telangana getting consolidated in favor of the Congress Party.”

This quid-pro-quo understanding between the ‘Pink Party’ and the Party which claims to be the voice of minorities in the State is likely to affect the poll prospects of the Congress party which is already stressed-out due to the early Elections in the Telangana State.

Just 2 days after KCR dissolved Assembly and announced the list of 105 candidates contesting for coming general elections on TRS ticket, senior leader and firebrand politician Konda Surekha has raised her ante against the party for “insulting” her by keeping her constituency on hold.

Stating that as many as 105 candidates have been declared and 12 seats from Warangal district have been declared, emotional Konda Surekha said her name was not in the list despite having good track-record of winning 4 times.

Konda Surekha said she has been targeted by the TRS. Surekha alleged that she was deliberately ignored in the party and she was denied the Warangal East ticket. Surekha said she was earlier promised ministry in KCR’s government and the promise was not kept. She alleged that her husband Konda Murali was promised with the MLC and even that was not kept.

Surekha said she got a call from KTR just two days before the decision where he told him that only one ticket would be offered to Konda family and asked her to decide on who will contest the seat – either her daughter Konda Kavitha or herself. Surekha admitted that she had sought some time to discuss in the family and later informed KTR, Santosh that she would herself contest and go by party’s wish.

Accusing TRS party of ignoring women, Konda Surekha said Choppadandi MLA Bodiga Sobha’s name was also missing in the list. Konda Surekha alleged that Andole MLA Babu Mohan and Chennur MLA Nallala Odelu who were denied tickets are SCs and hence discrimination. She alleged that only BCs, SCs, STs and women are facing discrimination in the TRS.

Surekha has thrown ball into KCR’s court. She sought an explanation from the TRS party that why her name is not mentioned in the list. She said all her opponents are being treated well within the party and only they’re ignored. Surekha accused that she was not informed when her opponents were joined into TRS. She said the party leaders are not in touch with her.

She said her final decision depends on the TRS party’s reply. Surekha said she has the potential to win even if she contests as independent. She enthused confidence on her cadre, followers and people of her constituency that they are with her. On the whole, the tickets episode is creating ripples among TRS circles.