BJP Weighs Mudiraj Candidate for Graduates’ MLC Seat
Party insiders believe the community has a notable presence in the Warangal–Khammam–Nalgonda graduates’ constituency, particularly in Nalgonda and Warangal districts, though its actual electoral influence would depend on local voter mobilisation.
As the graduates’ MLC elections approach in Telangana, political parties are intensifying efforts to select strong candidates for the Mahabubnagar–Rangareddy–Hyderabad and Warangal–Khammam–Nalgonda constituencies. According to Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudarshan Reddy, elections for both seats are tentatively scheduled for March 2027.
The Indian National Congress (INC) has announced Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy as its official candidate for the Warangal–Khammam–Nalgonda graduates’ constituency. The Jana Sena Party has selected Dr. Gadala Srinivas Rao, while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is expected to announce Rakesh Reddy Anugula as its candidate in the coming days. Independent candidates Palakuri Ashok Goud and D. Ravi Naik are also in the fray.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yet to finalise its candidate, with 16 aspirants reportedly seeking the ticket. The leading contenders are Dr. Vannala Venkataramana from the Padmashali community, Dr. Tutupalli Ravikumar from the Mudiraj community, and Sunkari Bhiksham Goud, who was recently elected Telangana state president of the Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union (PRTU).
Senior BJP leaders are considering fielding a Backward Class (BC) leader to strengthen the party’s grassroots presence in the constituency. Reliable party sources said Ravikumar has a strong chance of securing the nomination, as he currently serves as the state BJP secretary and in-charge for Suryapet district.
Ravikumar, who hails from a modest family, began his political career as an RSS activist in 1990. He later worked full-time for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from 2001 to 2010. Over a political career spanning 35 years, he has held roles in national and state party bodies. As Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state secretary in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he campaigned for scholarships for poor students and promoted the party’s ideology.
His supporters and local cadre, particularly young workers, are hoping he will receive the ticket this time, citing his decades of service to the party and the Sangh. Another factor in his favour is that he belongs to the Mudiraj community, one of the largest BC communities in Telangana. According to the state’s caste-survey data, Mudiraj, Mutrasi, and Tenugollu together account for about 26.39 lakh people, or 7.4% of the state’s population; they are the second-largest BC community after Shaik/Sheikh.
Party insiders believe the community has a notable presence in the Warangal–Khammam–Nalgonda graduates’ constituency, particularly in Nalgonda and Warangal districts, though its actual electoral influence would depend on local voter mobilisation.
As the BJP seeks to expand its base in Telangana through outreach to BC, SC, and ST communities, internal discussions and social-engineering considerations have reportedly delayed the candidate-selection process. This could hinder the party’s campaign preparations, as rival parties have already moved ahead with their announcements.
To address the Mudiraj community’s demand, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that the government would examine the proposal to shift the community from the BC-D category to BC-A. He said a Cabinet sub-committee would be formed to study the issue. Political analysts suggest the BJP may field a Mudiraj candidate to appeal to the community ahead of the MLC election and the next general election.
