Hyderabad: The TRS is devising its strategy to avert ‘ghar wapsi’ of MLAs, who moved in from other parties, because of denial of tickets in the ensuing elections. At least 27 MLAs from other parties joined the TRS on the assurance of tickets for the 2019 elections. However, TRS old-timers from these constituencies are exerting pressure on the party high command for tickets.
The TRS leadership fears that if tickets are denied to the new entrants, they may return to their old parties which would impact the prospects of the ruling party. The anticipated tie-up between the Congress and the TD for the 2019 elections has also become a cause for concern for the TRS leadership. The TD and Congress MLAs who defected to the TRS are telling the TRS leadership that they would be forced to return to their former parties if they are denied tickets. The defector MLAs believe that the Congress-TD tie-up would enhance their winning prospects as the parties enjoy a good votebank.
This argument is seen more in MLAs hailing from Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and surrounding districts where AP-origin people form a major chunk of voters. With both the TD and the Congress fighting for special category status for Andhra Pradesh, the defector MLAs from these seats that people from AP would favour a Congress-TD combine over the TRS. If TRS denies them tickets, it would be better to return to their old parties.
These MLAs are confident that the Congress and the TD would definitely give them priority while nominating candidates.
From Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts alone, nine MLAs from the TD and one from the Congress have defected to the TRS and are expecting TRS tickets. But some strong leaders within the TRS are giving these MLAs sleepless nights by taking up hectic campaigning claiming that the party leadership has assured them of tickets.
As a result of this, the defected MLAs are keeping the ‘ghar wapsi’ option open.
