Few leaders and independent candidates in Telangana may not strong enough to win in poll fight but, they can command winning chances of key leaders from both the ruling party and Mahakutami. It was already proved in the previous elections. Though they may not win the poll, they must be the cause behind the defeat of either TRS or Mahakutami candidates. On few of such candidates who have personal image in few segments, the ‘Telugu 360’ presents a special story.
Jitta Balakrishna Reddy (Bhuvanagiri): He contested as independent candidate in 2014 elections and secured second place with 39,270 votes where Congress got third position. He is contesting this time on his own party Yuva Telangana Party (YTP) banner with the support of BJP.
Padakanti Ramadevi (Muthole): She contested in 2014 from BJP and secured second place with 48,485 votes. She is contesting from BJP this time and she may split votes of TRS and Mahakutami.
Sankineni Venkateswara Rao (Suryapet): He contested as BJP rebel in the previous elections and lost the election with only 2,219 votes. As he got 41,335 votes, political experts are saying he must win this time or split votes of other parties.
Yendala Laxminarayana (Nizamabad Urban): He won from BJP in 2009 election and again got victory in 2010 by-elections. But, he has lost his election in 2014.
Raghunandan Rao (Dubbaka): He is a prominent advocate and worked with TRS earlier. Now, he is contesting as independent against TRS leader Mr. Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy.
Talloju Achari (Kalwakurthy): He was strong opponent to Congress candidate Challa Vamshichand Reddy in 2014 and lost the election with margin votes of 78. This time he strongly believes that he must win.
Kasireddy Narayana Reddy (Kalwakurthy): He is contesting as Congress rebel last time and split votes of Congress. While TRS was in 4th place, he got 3rd position. Later he joined with TRS and got MLC post. This time he didn’t get ticket from TRS and planning to contest as rebel. Political experts are saying that he may split votes of TRS and Mahakutami.
Sunil Kumar (Balkonda): He is the owner of Orange Travels. He is planning to contest in the present elections as either independent candidate or from BSP. He must split votes of both the TRS and the Mahakutami.
Babu Mohan: He won election in 2014 but, didn’t get ticket from TRS this time. Following the insult, he joined BJP and contesting from the National party. Political sources are saying that the step of Babu Mohan may damage TRS vote bank.
Payala Shankar (Adilabad): He contested as BJP candidate in 2014 and got second place with 43,994 votes. He is contesting again from the same party against Minister Mr. Jogu Ramanna.
K.Venkata Ramana Reddy (Kamareddy): He is ex-ZP chairman and contesting in assembly polls from BJP. As he has good image and support of Hindu voters, sources are expecting that he may split votes of both TRS and Congress.
Meanwhile, Gaddam Anand Reddy (Nizamabad), Keerthi Reddy (Bhupalapally), Gandra Satyanarayana (Bhupalapally), Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Karimnagar), Ratang Pandu Reddy (Narayanpet), P.Vinay Kumar Reddy (Armur), J.N.Venkat (Korutla), Swarna Reddy (Nirmal) may split votes of either TRS or Mahakutami, sources said.
