Remember Mandava Venkateshwar Rao? He was once a very powerful leader in the Telugu Desam Party and was considered a close confidant of Chandrababu Naidu. But things went awray, the TDP lost its sheen and future and Mandava had to join the TRS. When KCR had invited him into the TRS, he reportedly promised him an MLC seat.

Congress stalwart Suresh Reddy too joined the TRS from the Congress. He has been rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat. But, Mandava is still left in the lurch. KCR did not reward him for his joining the TRS. Since then, Mandava has been waiting for the post. On June 3, the term of MLC from Nizamabad, Akula Lalitha, has ended. So, those close to Mandava Venakteshwara Rao are hoping that he would be made the party candidate this time. Some even say that he has an assurance from no less a person than KCR himself. However, Akula Lalitha too is confident that she would get re-nominated. With both Mandava and Akula Lalitha vying for the same seat, there is an intense competition in the party.

Meanwhile, several other TRS leaders such as Nizamabad TRS president Eega Ganga Reddy, Kamareddy district unit TRS president Mujeebuddin, former MLC Arikela Narsa Reddy, K Narasimha Naidu and others are also competing for the seat. The final decision, as is known, is in KCR’s hands. Let’s see who will he choose.