Hyderabad: Many sitting MLAs of the Congress, the TD and the TRS who defected to other parties are trying their luck in the ongoing general elections.
Some MLAs not only changed loyalties to parties but also moved to other constituencies. Some leaders are contesting from the same party but from other constituencies.
In the 2009 general elections, many MLAs and senior leaders from the TD and the Congress joined the Praja Rajyam. But the defectors performed poorly. More than 25 leaders had joined the PR from the TD and the Congress but only eight were elected.
Prominent among those who were elected after defecting to other parties were Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Vanga Geetha, Bandaru Satyananda Rao, Shobha Nagireddy and Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu. The prominent losers were former ministers K. Kala Venkar Rao, Tammineni Sitaram, Kottapalli Subba Rayudu, former deputy speaker B. Vedavyas amongst others.
In the current elections, Congress MLA from Srisailam Erasu Pratapa Reddy joined the TD and is contesting from the Panyam Assembly segment. Congress MLA from Anakapalli Ganta Srinivasa Rao is contesting from Bhimili on a TD ticket this time.
Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy, who was elected from the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency in the last elections, is contesting from Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency this time. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao who was elected from Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency is now contesting from Medak Lok Sabha constituency and Gajwel Assembly segment.
Congress MLA from Tanuku Karumuri Nageswar Rao joined the YSRC and is contesting from Ungutur Assembly segment. Congress MLA from Penaluru K. Parthasaradi joined the YSRC and is contesting from the Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency.
MLA G. Babu Rao from Payakaraopet is contesting from Amalapuram Assembly segment this time. TD MLA from Thungaturthy M. Narasimhulu is contesting from Madhira Assembly segment in Khammam district.
Daggubati Purandeswari who was elected from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency from the Congress is now contesting from Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency as a BJP candidate.
Congress senior leader J.C. Diwakar Reddy was elected from Tadipatri Assembly segment in the last elections, but is contesting from Anantapur Lok Sabha constituency on a TD ticket.
