The Telangana polls have entered an altogether new phase. With the nomination withdrawal phase over, the parties are focusing on campaigning. Every political party has unleashed its star campaigners to woo the voter. The mobilisation of the workers and supporters has picked pace. At the same time, the parties are still battling rebels. But, the parties have now decided to crack the whip on the rebels.
Already, the Congress has suspended 24 rebels from the party for six years. This happened on Saturday. Some were rebel candidates, while the others were working against the party's interests. Now, the 23 MLAs of the YSRCP, who have defected to the TDP, are also worried. They now feel that Chandrababu could backstab them. "Chandrababu has stabbed his father in law in the back. Will he leave us? Will he dump us after using us fully for so many years," is their question.
Take for instance Gottipati Ravikumar of Addanki constituency inPrakasam district. He had won on YSRCP ticket and then shifted to the TDP. He had running feud with the TDP leader Karanam Balaram. The two leaders had attacked each other and this resulted in pitched battles. Now Ravi Kumar is worried that his seat could be given over to the Congress and he can't even complain. If he rebels, he would be suspended from the party. He might also incur the wrath of Chandrababu for demanding a seat. So, leaders like this, who defected for their personal benefit, are now spending sleepless nights.
Already, the Congress has suspended 24 rebels from the party for six years. This happened on Saturday. Some were rebel candidates, while the others were working against the party's interests. Now, the 23 MLAs of the YSRCP, who have defected to the TDP, are also worried. They now feel that Chandrababu could backstab them. "Chandrababu has stabbed his father in law in the back. Will he leave us? Will he dump us after using us fully for so many years," is their question.
Take for instance Gottipati Ravikumar of Addanki constituency inPrakasam district. He had won on YSRCP ticket and then shifted to the TDP. He had running feud with the TDP leader Karanam Balaram. The two leaders had attacked each other and this resulted in pitched battles. Now Ravi Kumar is worried that his seat could be given over to the Congress and he can't even complain. If he rebels, he would be suspended from the party. He might also incur the wrath of Chandrababu for demanding a seat. So, leaders like this, who defected for their personal benefit, are now spending sleepless nights.