HYDERABAD: BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday declared candidates for three more Lok Sabha seats – party MLA T. Padma Rao Goud from Secunderabad, and debutants Kyama Mallesh from Bhongir and Kancharla Krishna Reddy from Nalgonda. The BRS has so far named its candidates for 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Only the candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat remains to be named.
Announcing Padma Rao’s candidature, Chandrashekar Rao described him as a “loyal senior leader who has been with the BRS since the inception of the party.” The decision to nominate Padma Rao was taken after discussions with senior leaders and party MLAs, according to a press release from the party.
Chandrashekar Rao making it a point to mention Padma Rao’s loyalty assumes significance as he will be taking on Danam Nagender, who won Assembly elections from Khairatabad on a BRS ticket but switched over to the Congress recently. The BRS has called Nagender's shift to the Congress an act of betrayal and has sought his disqualification as MLA for switching loyalties.
With the BRS announcing its candidate from Secunderabad, the primary line-up of the three major parties is complete, with the BJP fielding its MP, TS BJP president and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy from the constituency. Secunderabad is set to witness a contest between an MP and two MLAs.
