Hyderabad: Several leaders from Telangana Congress are seeking the blessings of the Congress high command to be the party candidate for the lone MLC seat the party can win.
The list of aspirants, include former Union ministers, state ministers, former legislators and leaders.
Congress has 18 MLAs, after four of its MLAs defected to the TRS and one Independent MLA joined the Congress which will be just sufficient to elect one MLC out of six vacancies announced by the Election Commission.
Filing of nomination papers will start on May 14 and will continue till May 21. However, the two-day visit of AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi provides an opportunity for these ticket aspirants to make their claims.
The latest to join the fray is Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president and former minister Danam Nagender. He literally grabbed the opportunity to show his strength by planning a massive reception for Rahul Gandhi during his ensuing visit to the city on May 14 by attempting mobilisation of hundreds of party workers to gather near Shamshabad Airport to receive him and later for the road show from the airport to Bowenpally including erecting huge cut outs and hoardings at 10 places. Danam also mobilised Rs 10 lakh from the city leaders and from his own resources to donate to AICC that will be presented to Rahul Gandhi during his visit. Mr Danam who was silent for the last few months suddenly became active, which is being seen as an effort to grab the MLC ticket.
Other leaders include, former Union minister of state, Sarve Satyanarayana, Deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha, former ministers Sunitha Laxma Reddy, Telangana Mahila Congress president, Akula Lalitha, former ZPTC member from Karimnagar, Nerella Sarada, former Home Minister, Sabita Indra Reddy and others.
Former MLA Kanukula Janardhana Reddy, and former PCC chief, Ponnala Laxmaiah, former Speaker, K. R. Suresh Reddy, former Leader of Opposition, D. Srinivas are among serious contenders. However the list of aspirants will swell further according to PCC sources.
