Now it is clear that the Palair is going to be a multi-corner contest. Though the Congress could successfully convince TDP and YSR Congress to keep away from the byelection, scheduled on May 16, it failed to take the Left parties on board. This is a major setback for the Congress candidate Sucharita Reddy, as the left is expected create split in anti-establishment vote.
Congress wanted its candidate, wife of late MLA Ramreddy Venkata Reddy, be allowed to become MLA unopposed as Venkata Reddy passed away untimely. This, the party says, is a tradition evolved in united Andhra Pradesh and wants other parties to honor it. TDP and YSRC , because of their own reasons, finally agreed to honor the tradition even though it looked ideologically odd. See the picture.
TRS wants to put an end to the tradition in the new state. So is the Left. With this, Congress’ objective to win the seat uncontested or make a straight fight between TRS and Congress, could not be achieved. The CPM is fielding their own candidate and CPI extended support. The other left parties are also backing it.
The Left wants to make use of the byelection to attack the TRS and its policies and politics. For the Left, the byelection is an opportunity because in Telangana where T-sentiment is still a force, it is unlikely that the Left gets an opportunity to address people in rallies and public meetings. The CPM, as part of their campaign against TRS, has fielded P Sudarshan Rao as its candidate. Addressing a public meeting CPM politburo member Raghvulu called the TRS as ‘power-hungry’ party and urged the people to defeat it. For this CPM wants an opportunity and byelection fits the bill to the tee.
CPI, SUCI, MPCPI, SUCI, Forward Block, RSP representatives also participated in the public meeting. CPM had targeted TRS political culture by attacking the defections. The Left leaders said about 22 MLAs had been admitted into TRS unethically . The leaders accused the ruling party of engineering defections.
Raghavulu said Left parties alone had the commitment and capacity to safeguard the interests of the poor and downtrodden in Telangana. Voting for Left candidate means keep close watch on the misdeeds of ruling party,he said and added that poor would go voiceless if TRS wins the elections.
