Khammam: It’s 3rd round of Nama Nageswara Rao-Renuka Chowdary clash

Khammam: Such is the frequency with which politicians change loyalties that one-time foes end up being on the same side later. There are many such twists and turns in the candidates of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the Congress fighting the elections in Khammam Lok Sabha constituency.

TRS candidate Nama Nageswara Rao and Congress candidate Renuka Chowdary have twice been opponents from Khammam in the Lok Sabha elections -in 2004 and again in 2009.

Mr Nama Nageswara Rao was with the Telugu Desam and Ms Renuka Chowdary the Congress candidate both times. This time Mr Nama Nageswara Rao is a TRS candidate, though Renuka Choudary remains with the Congress party.

In 2004, Ms Renuka Chowdary was the winner but the tables were turned in 2009 when Mr Nama Nageswara Rao won by more than one lakh votes. The Telugu Desam, which was against the Congress in Khammam in 1999, 2004 and 2009, is extending support to her this time. The TD's Mr Koneru Satyanarayana is working hard for the victory of Ms Renuka Chowdary.

Mr Puvvada Ajay Kumar of the TD, who defeated Mr Nama Nageswara Rao in the Assembly elections, is now the TRS's Lok Sabha candidate and is making all efforts to win the seat. Arch rivals in the Assembly elections have thus became friends in the LS polls. This has disappointed many of Mr Ajay Kumar's supporters who had worked for him in the Assembly elections.

Another example of how soon foes turn friends in politics and vice versa, is former minister Tummala Nageswara Rao working for TRS candidate Nama Nageswara Rao. They were rivals in the TD where they headed two groups. Mr Tummala Rao has taken the responsibility of ensuring the victory of Nama Nageswara Rao in Khammam and is actively participating in the campaign.

Kothagudem MLA Vanama Venkateswara Rao and Palair MLA K. Upender Reddy have joined the TRS and are ready to campaign for Nama Nageswara Rao. Another twist is Mr Jalagam Venkat Rao who lost in the Assembly elections against Mr Vanama Rao is now working for the latter's victory.

There were differences between Sattupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and Nama Nageswara Rao when they were in the TD. Now, they are in the TRS and Mr Sandra too has to campaign for Mr Nama Nageswara Rao.

Aswaraopet MLA Mecha Nageswara Rao, who was a follower of Mr Nama Nageswara Rao, has not changed his party and continues as a Telugu Desam member. But he is campaigning for Ms Renuka Chowdary.

Mr Nama Nageswara Rao had another bit of luck in the Wyra Assembly segment. Mr Ramulu Naik won in Wyra as an independent candidate and later joined the TRS. Now he is also working for Mr Nama Nageswara Rao.

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