The Telangana Congress made its formal candidate announcement for three MLC seats, introducing the expected and surprising ones. Expectedly, veteran leader Addanki Dayakar got a seat, while ST category ticket was given to Shankar Naik. The surprise came in the general category with former MP and actress Vijayashanti named as the candidate. Her placement on the list surprised many, since she was not even in the running among the frontrunners. With this action, her election is now considered a foregone conclusion.
There was heavy speculation that Vem Narender Reddy, one of the close associates of Chief Minister Enmula Revanth Reddy, would be among the selected candidates. A close friend of Revanth from their time in the TDP, Narender Reddy went on to join Congress and is now an advisor to the Telangana government. Though Revanth is said to have urged his inclusion to bolster his core team, the party high command did not consider the proposal.
Also in the race for an MLC seat was senior Congress leader Toorpu Jayaprakash Reddy, who is affectionately known as Jaggareddy, as well as Sangareddy chief Kusuma Kumar. The duo’s chances were not very high, with their attempts at getting a ticket proving futile after the high command chose another move.
Though Addanki Dayakar and Vijayashanti are familiar names in Telangana politics, Shankar Naik from Nalgonda district is a relatively unknown figure outside his constituency. Yet, sources reveal that his energetic participation in party activities was a crucial factor in getting his MLC ticket.
Meenakshi Natarajan, who oversees Telangana Congress affairs, is known for prioritizing hardworking and dedicated leaders. Insiders believe that this approach was instrumental in Shankar Naik’s selection, as the party looks to reward loyalty and grassroots-level leadership.
With these selections, the Telangana Congress has made a strategic move, balancing experience, loyalty, and regional representation as it gears up for the political challenges ahead.