BJP, Congress dangling carrots before BRS dissidents

Both the BJP and the Congress in Telangana are working overtime to lure BRS dissidents into their fold. Both feel that these candidates are resourceful and have considerable public support and thus would be useful in tilting scales in their favour. The joinings committees in both the parties are in touch with the dissidents.

The BJP is hoping that Malkajgiri MLA Mynampalli Hanumanth Rao and Vemulawada MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh will jump into its bandwagon. Though Hanumanth Rao has been given a ticket to contest from Malkajgiri, his demand for the Medak seat for his son has been rejected. This has upset Rao and he made some disparaging remarks against Harish Rao. His exit from the BRS appears almost certain.

Similarly, Ramesh was denied a ticket because of the dispute over his citizenship. So, it is not clear if the BJP would give him a ticket. If he gets the ticket, what about Eatala's acolyte Tula Uma, who has been working hard in Vemulawada?

Meanwhile, the Congress is trying to net former MLAs Vemula Veeresham, Malipeddi Sudheer Reddy, Thummala Nageswara Rao, Jalagam Venkat Rao and others. It has already begun talks with these leaders. In another development, former minister Motkupalli Narsimhulu, who is upset that KCR has ignored him, is holding a meeting of his supporters to decide on his future course of action.