TDP To Stay Away From Palair By-Election

With the Telangana TDP and the YSR Congress Party deciding to keep off the by-election to Palair Assembly constituency in Telangana on May 16, there will be a virtual straight contest between the ruling TRS and the main Opposition the Congress, for the seat.

The by-election to the Palair constituency was necessitated following the death of sitting Congress MLA Ramreddy Venkata Reddy. The Party has decided to field his wife Sucharita Reddy as its nominee.

It may be mentioned here that the Congress, which was keen on retaining the Palair seat at any cost, approached the TDP and sought its help in the by-election. TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka urged the TDP to extend its support to the Congress nominee. The Congress had also written a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president Chandrababu Naidu seeking his help. Following this, TDP state president L Ramana said the Party would support the Congress candidate in the by-election.

The Congress had appealed to all the other political parties, too, to let Venkata Reddy's wife get elected unopposed as per the traditions in undivided Andhra Pradesh and also in view of the departed leader's clean image. But while YSR Congress and TDP announced their decision not to field candidates, the TRS refused to play ball. It has chosen Roads & Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, currently an MLC, as its candidate. And Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's son, IT & Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao, has been appointed as the Party in-charge for the election.

The Congress expressed hope that the CPI and CPI(M), which have a presence in the Khammam district, would also not field their candidates.

Responding to all other Opposition parties supporting the Congress in the bypoll, KTR criticised them for the move.