All eyes on Revanth Reddy as MLC elections under MLA quota get near

Amidst all these contenders, the big question is whether Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will recommend Advisor to Government Vem Narender Reddy’s name

Hyderabad: With the notification for biennial elections to the MLCs under MLAs quota being issued, speculations are doing rounds in Gandhi Bhavan over nomination of leaders for the elections, which will be held on March 20.

Among a few prominent leaders, a couple of leaders have already commenced lobbying for the nominations. There is speculation that State government Advisors, including Vem Narender Reddy, Harakara Venugopal and Mohd Ali Shabbir are among contenders. These apart, many leaders from different communities are also eyeing the opportunity. Among the OC category, former Minister K Jana Reddy, T Jeevan Reddy, T Jagga Reddy and others are among the probables. Likewise, from the BC community, Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Egge Mallesham, Sunitha Mudiraj, Neelam Madhu and others are keen to be nominated.

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Addanki Dayakar, Sampath Kumar, Pidamarthy Ravi, Singapuram Indira and others are hoping for a call from the SC category. From the Minorities, former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin, Feroz Khan and Fayeem Qureshi are in the list.

Will CM recommend Vem Narender Reddy

Amidst all these contenders, the big question is whether Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will recommend Advisor to Government Vem Narender Reddy’s name. It may be recalled that in the 2015 sensational cash-for-vote case, Revanth Reddy was caught red-handed while allegedly bribing nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to cast his vote in favour of Narender Reddy, who was the TDP candidate then in the MLC elections. Both the leaders were members of the TDP then.

Another dimension in the speculations doing rounds in Gandhi Bhavan is that even if the Chief Minister recommends Narender Reddy’s name, will the high command consider the same?

If Narender Reddy is recommended, then former Minister and senior leader K Jana Reddy’s name cannot be recommended as he too hails from the same community. At a time when caste politics are at its peak in the Telangana Congress, recommending two leaders from the same community is ruled out.

So all eyes are on Revanth Reddy, waiting on how he will handle the situation.