TRS finalises Lok Sabha candidates for 2019 polls, Kept one hold

Telangana Rastra Samithi chief and CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao is said to have finalised 15 of the 16 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, but may present a double-surprise in Nalgonda. There are strong rumours in the TRS that Congress leader and former minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy is likely contest on a ruling party ticket from the Nalgonda LS seat.

Sources in the TRS disclosed that the Komatireddy brothers — Mr Venkata Reddy and Mr Rajagopal Reddy — were in touch with the TRS boss. According to party sources, Mr Rao made the offer that if both the Komatireddy brothers joined the party, he would nominate Mr Venkata Reddy from Nalgonda.

Speculation over the Komatireddy brothers joining the TRS only strengthened after Mr Chirumurthy Lingaiah, Congress MLA from Nakrekal and confidant of Mr Venkata Reddy, announced his decision to jump ship. If the rumours hold true, the TRS would get a fourth Congress MLA in Mr Rajagopal Reddy and the Congress number would fall to 15.