There are two primary reasons when a political leader contests in two different constituencies. First, to demonstrate their popularity and influence among the people in nearby segments, and second, due to concerns about the potential defeat in one of the segments. Prominent leaders like Indira Gandhi and NTR also tested their popularity by contesting in more than one constituency.
Currently, BRS President KCR is running for the Assembly from both Gajwel and Kamareddy segments. This is not the first time for KCR to contest in two segments. In 2004, he contested for the Siddipet Assembly and the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seats and emerged victorious. Additionally, in 2014, he competed for the Gajwel Assembly seat and the Medak Parliament seat, both of which he won.
However, these two cases are unique. The 2004 elections occurred during the height of the Telangana movement. Furthermore, KCR has only contested for one assembly seat and one parliament seat on two occasions in his career. Notable party leaders who contested from two assembly seats in the past were NTR and Chiranjeevi.
NT Rama Rao contested in 1983 from the Gudivada and Tirupati assembly seats in the united state and won both seats. In 1985, he contested from Gudiwada, Hindupuram, and Nalgonda, emerging victorious in all three. In 1989, he contested from Hindupuram and Kalvakurti seats but won in Hindupuram and lost in Kalvakurti.
In 1994, NTR contested from Hindupur and Tekkali and won both seats. In a similar fashion, in 2009, Praja Rajyam leader Chiranjeevi contested from Tirupati and Palakollu seats, winning in Tirupati and losing in Palakollu. In the divided Andhra Pradesh, Janasena’s Pawan Kalyan contested from Gajuwaka and Bhimavaram in 2019 but was defeated in both places.
KCR, who has never faced defeat except in 1983, will attract significant attention wherever he loses in these two seats. In addition to winning in both places, if his party also comes to power, it will create history. Reportedly, KCR is expected to face a tough fight in Kamareddy, where Revanth is his opponent.