Telangana: K Chandrasekhar Rao to remain care-taker Chief Minister

Telangana assembly: K Chandrasekhar Rao likely to recommend dissolution

HYDERABAD: Soon after dissolution of the Telangana Assembly on Thursday afternoon, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced a list of 105 candidates of the TRS who will contest the next elections on a party ticket. KCR announcing his list even before an election notification had been issued took opposition and observers by surprise. Political parties, as seen in the past, usually play a hide and seek game in declaring candidates and most of the times, the announcement is made at the last minute. But KCR was aggressive and sent out a signal that he is confident of a return of office, post polls.KCR had said that he would announce candidates after the September 2 public meeting of the party, but announcing candidates for 105 of 119 seats in one go came like a thunderbolt.Practically all sitting legislators have been renominated putting to end speculation about how many he would drop. Two TRS sitting legislators N Odelu of Chennur and Babu Mohan of Andhole were dropped. KCR said he had a word with them and their services would be utilised in other capacities.The TRS president has kept on hold announcement for five seats. Out of the total 90 seats the party has, including those who crossed over from the Congress and TDP, KCR announced candidates for 83 sitting legislators. KCR himself will contest from his Gajwel assembly constituency which he represents now. His son, IT and MA&UD minister K T Rama Rao (KTR) will contest from Sircilla and nephew T Harish Rao will contest from Siddipet.Contrary to speculation that KCR’s daughter and Nizamabad MP Kavitha Kalvakuntla may shift to the assembly segment, her name was not annonced as a candidate for the assembly polls, clearly indicating that she would contest to remain a parliamentarian.The party’s candidates from Medchal, Malkajgiri, Choppadandi, Vikarabad and Warangal East have not been announced – an indication that they will be replaced. KCR, however, said a decision would be taken about them latest in 10 days time after resolving some issues.KCR also did not announce party candidates for another nine constituencies which are either represented by BJP, Congress, or the MIM in the assembly. Candidates have not been announced against PCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy (Huzurnagar) and his wife N Padamavathi (Kodad). No candidates have yet been announced for Musheerabad which is represented by state BJP president Laxman, Amberpet for which G Kishan Reddy is the MLA, Khairatabad which is represented by C Ramachandra Reddy of the BJP, and Goshamahal represented by BJP MLA Raja Singh. Candidates were also not announced for Charminar for which MIM’s Pasha Qadri is the MLA and Malakpet which is represented by Ahmed Balala.