The Pradesh Congress Committee is finding it tough to identify the right candidate to fight the forthcoming by-elections to Warangal Lok Sabha seat, which was vacated by Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari on his election to the State Legislative Council.
The Congress party is learnt to have zeroed in on two candidates – former Peddapalli MP G Vivek and PCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka – both SCs for the Warangal reserved seat. However, both of them are learnt to have rejected the offer.
Vivek apparently told the leadership that he would be an outsider to Warangal; moreover, the constituency is dominated by Madigas and he, being a Mala, would not get the cooperation from Madiga community. Instead, he said he would continue to nurture his Peddapalli constituency for another four years so that he could win the seat.
On the other hand, Bhatti, too, is not inclined to contest the Warangal seat due to the same Mala-Madiga factor. Besides, he is comfortable as Madhira MLA and does not want to take any risk.
Interestingly, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, too, is not able to find a right candidate for Warangal seat.
Information is that Kadiam Srihari is trying for the ticket for his daughter, while former Dy CM T Rajaiah is also lobbying for his wife.
But since Kadiam and Rajaiah are bitter rivals, TRS chief KCR might not prefer either’s recommendation because there is a possibility of sabotage.
