After the separate Telangana state formation, this marks the third time the state is heading for assembly elections. Amid numerous survey reports and analysts’ analyses of the election results, there is a growing curiosity about how the people will express their mandate through their votes after a decade of BRS government rule. For the first time, three top leaders are contesting from two assembly constituencies, which has never occurred before. KCR (Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao) is running for two assembly seats, while TPCC Chief Revanth Reddy and BJP MLA Etela Rajender are challenging him in Kamareddy and Gajwel, respectively. In certain constituencies, many are anticipating a tough battle. Let’s take a closer look at the key constituencies in Telangana.
Gajwel, Kamareddy
It’s a big question in political circles and among the general public as to why KCR is contesting in two assembly seats, Gajwel and Kamareddy, this time. The answer is not entirely clear. From the BRS cadre, KCR mentioned to the Gajwel party cadre that he has some reasons for contesting in Kamareddy as well. Gajwel is the constituency that KCR has represented for the past 9 and a half years, winning two consecutive terms. Some party leaders suggest that KCR’s decision to contest in Kamareddy is because it is closer to Maharashtra, where he may be considering a run in the general elections.
Others speculate that since Kamareddy is part of the combined Nizamabad district, where his daughter Kavitha lost, KCR believes that his contesting there may impact the Nizamabad Lok Sabha elections, potentially helping Kavitha win.
Regardless of the reasons for KCR’s dual assembly seat contest, his opponents are gearing up to give him a tough battle in both constituencies. In Gajwel, BJP MLA Etela Rajender is contesting against KCR, while in Kamareddy, TPCC chief Revanth Reddy is his opponent. By challenging KCR, these two leaders are signaling to the public that they see themselves as equal contenders. With the BJP naming a BC CM candidate and Revanth Reddy being a front runner in Congress for the CM post, both are striving to showcase their leadership capabilities by taking on KCR in the elections.
Kodangal
TPCC chief Revanth Reddy is contesting from the Kodangal constituency, which given him political life. Revanth won in Kodangal in 2009 and 2014, but lost in 2018 to the BRS candidate Patnam Narender Reddy. Following his defeat in Kodangal, he contested for the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 elections and won with a 4000-vote majority. However, since assuming the TPCC president post, Revanth Reddy has not made a remarkable impact failing in Dubbaka by election, Nagarjuna Sagar by election and Munugode by election. In 2020 GHMC elections, in Malkajgiri where Revanth Reddy is representing as MP, congress gets only 2 seats for 48 seats in that segment. For him, the upcoming election is a “do or die” situation to prove his leadership.
This time, Revanth is also contesting from Kamareddy, where CM KCR is fielded by the BRS. Revanth believes he is capable of contesting two assembly seats like KCR, but if he fails, it could be a big damage to his future in politics.
Huzurabad
Huzurabad is the constituency of Etela Rajender, where he has won five consecutive terms – four terms from TRS and one from BJP. Rajender, who began his political career in TRS and was named the right hand of KCR, left the party after facing land grabbing allegations and joined BJP in 2021. He successfully won the Huzurabad by-election by using the self-respect card after leaving TRS. In the by-election, he was pitted against BRS’s candidate, Padi Kaushik Reddy. This time, people are debating whether to continue supporting Etela’s self-respect campaign or align with BRS for their welfare and development agenda.
Etela is also contesting from Gajwel this time, believing that the Mudiraj community, which is numerous in that area, will support him against KCR. If Etela achieves positive results in both constituencies, it will significantly boost his future political prospects. However, if he experiences negative outcomes, it could be detrimental to his political career.
Karimnagar
Former Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay is contesting from the Karimnagar constituency against BRS candidate and Minister Gangula Kamalakar. Gangula Kamalakar has consecutively won from Karimnagar since 2009. After losing to Gangula Kamalakar twice, Bandi Sanjay contested for the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and emerged victorious, becoming a Member of Parliament. Subsequently, he was appointed as the party chief in Telangana.
There are speculations that Bandi Sanjay is contesting in Karimnagar due to pressure from the party’s high command. So far, the Congress has not fielded a candidate in the Karimnagar constituency. It’s interesting to note that both Gangula and Bandi belong to the same community, Munnuru Kapu (OBC). Gangula has the credit of breaking Velama’s strong hold Karimnagar as a BC leader. After the BJP announced a BC chief minister candidate, Bandi Sanjay’s name is also on the list of potential candidates for that post.
BJP senior leader Muralidhar Rao mentioned that Bandi Sanjay was removed from the position of party president in the state because the BJP high command is considering him for the role of Chief Minister. However, these elections are crucial for Bandi Sanjay, as he has not yet won an assembly election.
Khammam
In the entire Telangana region, the combined Khammam district is the only area where the BRS party is struggling to establish its presence. In the previous elections, the BRS party managed to secure only one seat in this district, which was the Khammam seat. In the upcoming elections, the sitting MLA, Puvvada Ajay Kumar from the BRS party, will be contesting for this seat, while Thummala
Nageshwara Rao from the Congress party will be his opponent. Notably, Thummala had previously been associated with the BRS party but recently joined the Congress after failing to secure a ticket.
Khammam is known for its political dominance by leaders from the Kamma community. Both Puvvada Ajay and Thummala belong to the same community, making this upcoming election a predicted tough battle. Thummala Nageshwara Rao was elected as the MLA from Khammam in 2009 but lost the 2014 election to Puvvada Ajay, who was then contesting from the Congress. Puvvada Ajay, who won the 2014 election on a Congress ticket, later switched to the BRS party. In 2018, he won from the BRS party to secure a victory in Khammam district.
Palair
In Palair, the sitting MLA, Upender Reddy, is contesting this election from the BRS party. His opponent is Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy from the Congress party. Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who switched from BRS to Congress earlier this year, has challenged CM KCR, stating that he will prevent the Khammam BRS candidates from entering the assembly. Upender Reddy, the sitting candidate, had won in 2018 on a Congress ticket but later joined the BRS in 2019. Thammineni Veerabhadram from the CPM is also contesting this election, and it may potentially split the votes between the BRS and Congress. Both BRS and Congress are highly confident of winning this seat, making this a tough battle between the two parties.
Huzurnagar
Huzurnagar, previously a stronghold of the Congress party, is now in now represented by BRS party MLA Shanampudi Saidireddy. In the 2019 by-election, the BRS candidate, Shanampudi Saidireddy, emerged victorious against Padmavathi Reddy, who is the wife of the then TPCC chief, Nalamada Uttham Kumar Reddy. Uttham Kumar Reddy had won the Huzurnagar assembly seat in 2018 and the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat in 2019. Later, he resigned from the Huzurnagar assembly seat, leading to the by-election where Saidireddy defeated Congress candidate Nalamada Padmavathi Reddy. In the upcoming elections, Congress MP Uttham Kumar Reddy is contesting against Saidireddy, and a tough fight is expected between the two parties.
Nalgonda
Nalgonda, once a stronghold of the Congress, is now represented by BRS MLA Kancharla Bhupal Reddy. Congress senior leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy won this constituency in four consecutive terms in 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014. However, in 2018, he lost the election to BRS candidate Kancharla Bhupal Reddy. Later, Komatireddy contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Bhongir constituency and emerged victorious. With a strong presence in Nalgonda district, Komatireddy is now determined to regain his seat by defeating Kancharla Bhupal Reddy. On the other hand, Kancharla Bhupal Reddy is appealing to the Nalgonda constituency’s public to consider the development accomplished over the past five years and vote accordingly.
Siddipet
Siddipet is an indisputable stronghold of BRS minister and troubleshooter Harish Rao. The current Chief Minister of Telangana, KCR, has represented this constituency for six consecutive terms. However, during the Telangana movement, he vacated this seat to represent the Lok Sabha. Since then, Harish Rao has been the representative and has achieved an impressive six consecutive victories. In the 2018 assembly elections, Harish Rao set a record by winning with a substantial margin of 120,000 votes. His opponents in previous elections failed to even secure their deposits. Without a doubt, Siddipet remains a strong fortress for BRS, and it appears unlikely that any opponent will be able to secure victory in the near future.
Sircilla
Sircilla, the constituency represented by IT Minister BRS Working President KTR, has been his stronghold since 2009. Over the course of four consecutive elections, KTR has maintained its winning streak. In his first election in 2009, he secured victory by a slim margin of just 171 votes. However, he gradually solidified his position in the constituency, and in the last 2018 election, he won with an impressive majority of 85,000 votes. In the upcoming election, KTR faces competition from KK Mahender Reddy of the Congress, who has previously worked alongside KCR in the TRS. The BJP fielded Rani Rudrama against KTR this time in Sircilla constituency. Undoubtedly, it’s a big challenge for opponents to face KTR in Sircilla.
Sirpur
This time, the Sirpur assembly might witness a tough battle in the assembly elections. Koneru Konappa, representing the BRS party, has been the MLA here, winning in both 2014 and 2018. He initially won in the 2014 elections on a BSP ticket but later joined the BRS party. In 2018, he won second time from BRS in Sirpur.
In the upcoming election, RS Praveen Kumar, the chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party, is contesting from this constituency against Konappa. RS Praveen is running an aggressive campaign against Konappa, portraying him as a non-local from Andhra and making corruption allegations against him.
From the Congress party, Raavi Srinivas is contesting here, having previously run against Konappa from the BSP. Harish Palvai, contesting from the BJP, is also in the race. He previously contested against Konappa from the Congress party and secured the second position, trailing Konappa by 50 thousand votes.
Madhira
Madhira is a reserved SC constituency, a stronghold of the Congress party, represented by CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, who is also a front-runner for the CM post from the Congress party. Bhatti has won the Madhira seat in three consecutive terms, in the years 2009, 2014, and 2018. In the upcoming elections, BRS Lingala Kama Raju is contesting against Bhatti Vikramarka, while CPM Paladugu Bhaskar is also in the race. In the 2018 election, Bhatti Vikramarka secured the Madhira seat with a narrow margin of just 3,567 votes.
Mulug
From Mulug ST constituency, Danasari Anasuya, also known as Seetakka, is representing the Congress party as an MLA. Seetakka’s simplicity and her dedication to serving tribal people during the COVID-19 pandemic have been remarkable. She has won the Mulugu seat in both the 2009 and 2018 elections. The BRS party has fielded ZP chairman Bade Nagajyothi as their candidate against Seetakka, whose family also has a Naxal background like Seetakka. Recently, Rahul Gandhi conducted a bus yatra in Mulugu, and Seetakka is very confident in regaining the seat in the upcoming elections. On the other hand, Bade Nagajyothi is also expressing confidence in defeating Seetakka this time in Mulugu. However, a tough election battle is predicted in Mulug this time.
