As an integrated district it played a crucial role during the separate Telangana movement and it has a unique position in the State’s politics borne out of a sentiment. All the parties believe that whoever wins the most number of seats in Karimnagar would form the government.
The ruling TRS which has always believed in the district sentiment, is going whole hog in its campaign even before its rivals announced their candidates. In the 2014 elections, it had won 12 out of 13 segments. TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had announced tickets to all sitting legislators from the 12 Assembly segments except the Choppadandi reserved seat.
Rebel trouble
Dissent is out in the open in Ramagundam, Vemulawada, Manthani and Jagtial assembly segments. The TRS rebels are planning to contest as independents from Ramagundam and Vemulawada segments. Party bigwigs — CM’s son and minister K. Taraka Rama Rao is contesting from Sircilla and finance minister Eatala Rajender is in the fray from Huzurabad.
The grand alliance of the Congress, TDP, the CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) considers winning from here a prestige issue. Congress candidates have already been finalized for nine segments: Karimnagar, Manthani, Jagtial, Korutla, Sircilla, Vemulawada, Huzurabad, Peddapalli and Manakondur. Four seats — Choppadandi, Dharmapuri, Ramagundam and Husnabad — have been kept in abeyance.
Old hands again
Former ministers D. Sridhar Babu and T. Jeevan Reddy are contesting from Manthani and Jagtial seats. TPCC working president and former MP Ponnam Prabhakar is contesting from Karimnagar Assembly segment.
CPI State secretary Chada Venkat Reddy was keen on contesting from Husnabad, while Congress candidate and former legislator A. Praveen Reddy wanted to enter the fray to give a tough fight to the TRS. Praveen Reddy, who had already intensified his electioneering in the segment, is planning to contest as an independent if the party gives the seat to the CPI.
Cheerleader TDP
Before the advent of the TRS, the TDP had a big hold and swayed in all the elections but had been losing its sheen. Interestingly, it had decided not to contest from any of the Assembly segments. Instead, it had decided to extend support and campaign for its alliance partners. So much so, Telangana TDP president L. Ramana had launched the campaign in support of the Congress in Jagtial. He also assured to campaign for alliance’s candidates in all the Assembly segments in the district.
Solo fight
The BJP has decided to go it alone and announced its candidates from Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Manakondur, Korutla, Choppadandi, Jagtial, Ramagundam and Sircilla. It is upbeat after its national president Amit Shah kicked off electioneering in Karimnagar town by addressing a public meeting. And, it is likely to give a tough fight in Karimnagar and Peddapalli segments. However, the resignation of Karimnagar BJP district president K. Srinivas Reddy and his joining the TRS had come as rude shock to the party.
Poll promises
The last Assembly elections were fought on the formation of Telangana State with all the parties claiming their role in achieving it. This election, however, is likely to be different as the TRS is calling upon the electorate to re-elect the TRS for the continuation of all its welfare schemes.
On the other hand, the Congress and its allies are banking on the prevailing anti-incumbency factor in all the constituencies. The Congress is promising better sops and welfare of all sections of society if elected to power. #KhabarLive
