Nizamabad: Former Assembly Speaker and Congress candidate from the Armoor Assembly constituency, Mr K.R. Suresh Reddy, is pinning his hopes on the work he has put in here in the past five years.
The senior politician is contesting against two youngsters in Armoor as the TRS has fielded its youth wing president, Mr A. Jeevan Reddy, and the Telugu Desam has chosen Osmania University students’ JAC president, Mr Rajaram Yadav.
Mr Suresh Reddy, a four time MLA from Balkonda Assembly constituency, had experienced his first defeat in the Armoor Assembly constituency in the 2009 general elections. In his capacity as Assembly Speaker, he had hoped to win but in vain.
Due to delimitation of Assembly constituencies, Mr Suresh Reddy had shifted to Armoor from his stronghold, the Balkonda segment.
Without any official or party post, Mr Suresh Reddy had kept in touch with the local leaders and people of Armoor Assembly constituency for the past five years. He had regularly visited Armoor, Nandipet and Makloor mandals of the constituency and had tried to solve the problems of the people.
Reportedly, in-charge minister quota funds were utilised for the constituency’s development.
Political analysts believed that Mr Suresh Reddy had identified lapses and tried to sort it out. He responded to the problems of basic amenities in the constituency and forwarded them to the government.
He had also raised his voice for carving out of a separate Telangana state and had represented the Congress from Telangana to discuss the separate Telangana issue in the all-party meeting in New Delhi.
The Congress cadre believes that credit for granting of Telangana state, the development card and his matured leadership could help Mr Suresh Reddy win in the current elections. Instead of targeting his rivals Mr Suresh Reddy campaigned on the development plank.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Suresh Reddy said that his track record as MLA will help him win in the present elections. “There is regret among the people for defeating me in last general elections. Now they are overwhelmingly supporting me,” he said.
Meanwhile, the support of Muslims will be crucial in Armoor Assembly constituency. Reportedly, the elders of community assured Mr Suresh Reddy of their support.
Armoor sitting MLA, Ms A. Annapurnamma of the Telugu Desam, has withdrawn from the fray and that will be a major relief for Mr Suresh Reddy.
