Hyderabad: After winning Assembly elections in December 2018, TRS MLAs are facing a challenging situation in rural Telangana ahead of local body polls. TRS supremo and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has entrusted the task of securing all the ZPTC and MPTC seats to MLAs. This has further enhanced the pressure on them.

“Though ministers, MLAs, MPs, MLCs and senior leaders are recommending their family members or relatives for fielding as ZPTC or MPTC candidates, the final selection will be done by the party high command only. Moreover, the responsibility of securing all the local body seats has further intensified the pressure on us. It also involves lot of money spending as well. Adding to this, the possible survey on performance of each MLA during the local body elections will further mount pressure on us,” said a TRS MLA on a condition of anonymity.

Elections for 197 ZPTC and 2,166 MPTC are scheduled in three phases on May 6, 10 and 14, and results will be announced on May 27.

Over 1.56 crore voters will be taking part in the elections for Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs).

The ruling part MLAs are under pressure to get party candidates in ZPTC and MPTC seats falling under their Assembly constituency. Moreover, selection of candidates has become a tough task as over 10 leaders are competing for one seat. Caste, loyalty and local strength are main factors for selecting a right candidate, said a senior TRS leader.

With 13 MLAs from Congress defecting to TRS, competition for ZPTC and MPTC seats is very high across the state. TRS high command is keen on choosing winning horses as it doesn’t want to leave any scope for the Congress, BJP and other political parties.