HYDERABAD: A bellwether seat, Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency, once represented by former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and CM A Revanth Reddy’s own turf, is likely to witness a battle royale in the Lok Sabha polls.
Revanth, who has fixed the target of winning 14 out of 17 seats to his partymen, is laying special emphasis on this constituency as his assembly seat of Kodangal falls under Mahabubnagar and eyeing a big win.The Congress has fielded Ch Vamshi Chand Reddy and BJP announced the candidature of party national vice-president and former minister DK Aruna. BRS nominated its sitting MP Manne Srinivas Reddy again.
Mahabubnagar seat, which came into existence in 1957, was a stronghold of Congress but slipped into the hands of the BRS in the last three general elections. The BRS won in 2009 (KCR), 2014 and 2019 from this seat.
The Congress, however, bounced back in Nov 2023 assembly polls by winning all seven seats falling under Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency. Since the BRS has more representation in the local bodies, the CM focused on strengthening the party at the grassroots level.
The Congress poached several BRS leaders, including ZP chairperson, who joined the party last month. Former BJP MP A Jithender Reddy, was one of the big leaders who joined the Congress, whose joining is set to boost the party’s chances.
The BJP, which won the constituency in 1999, is also hoping to wrest the seat from the BRS. Aruna is going all-out to win. In the 2019 polls, she lost against Srinivas Reddy. PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah are also giving special emphasis on the constituency.
On the other hand, BRS is trying to regain its glory. The party is nursing hopes on the votes of labourers on the grounds that it stopped their migration to other places. It also believes the Palamuru-Rangareddy scheme, launched by its govt, will fetch votes.
