Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is keeping everyone in suspense over the two Rajya Sabha seats amid a growing clamour for nominations. The elections, if they are needed, will be held on June 11.
Among the front-runners is said to be former minister Capt. V. Laxmikantha Rao, a friend of Mr Rao and T-movement leader. “I am sure he will get it,” a source close to Mr Rao said.
It is said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent meeting with Mr Rao, requested the CM to spare one seat for a BJP nominee. Mr Rao remained non-committal.
“It’s true there is talk Mr Modi and the Congress leadership reportedly approached Mr Rao for a seat. But CM garu did not commit. The CM wants to have two TRS members in the Rajya Sabha,” a senior party leader said.
Other names doing the rounds are those of Mr Rao’s Man Friday and Namaste Telangana daily publisher D. Damodar Rao, government adviser D. Srinivas, special representative in Delhi Dr S. Venugopala Chary and TNGOs leader Devi Prasad. The two seats fell vacant due to the retirement of Mr V. Hanumantha Rao (Congress) and Gundu Sudharani (TD, who joined TRS).
TRS has one RS member in party secretary-general K. Kesava Rao. Asked about his chances, TNGOs leader Devi Prasad said, “CM will decide.”
CMs Always send top aides to Rajya Sabha
The trend of trusted aides of Chief Ministers and party leaders being nominated to the Rajya Sabha is a regular feature in AP and TS. This time too, it is likely that contractors and close confidants of CMs and party bosses will get into the Upper House.
Then Chief Minsiter Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had sent his close aide K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao to the Rajya Sabha. YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to field his auditor V. Vijay Sai Red-dy to the Upper House.
AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had previously nominated industrialist Sujana Chowdary and contractor C.M. Ramesh to the Upper House. Earlier too, Mr Naidu had nominated his close confidants Khambapati Rammohan Rao and Garikapati Ramamohan Rao to the RS.
In several such cases, the MPs indulged in actions that raised controversy.
While Mr Ramachandra Rao was grilled by the CBI in some cases, another case is pending against him in the US.
Mr Vijay Sai Reddy has been arrested and is facing trial in several cases relating to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s alleged quid pro quo deals. Mr Chowdary, a Union minister, is facing a civil case with regard to the Mauritius Bank. Political circles are waiting to see who TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will send to the Rajya Sabha.
