LEADERS TO FIRM UP DYNASTIES IN POLLS

■May seek party tickets for family members in 2019 polls

The 2019 general election could see the emergence of a new generation of dynastic political leaders in the state, if senior leaders succeed in getting their family members nominated for elections.

According to speculation in the ruling TRS and the opposition Congress, some of their senior leaders are trying to get party tickets for their family members.

With Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s plan to make some of his ministers contest for the Lok Sabha, sources said the senior leaders are planning to get their family members nominated for the Assembly election to protect their hold on their constituencies.

Deputy CM Kadiam Srihari wants Warangal Lok Sabha ticket for his daughter Kadiam Kavya. Ministers Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, Chandulal and Jupally Krishna Rao want party tickets for their sons. Speaker S. Madhusudanachary is lobbying for his son Prashant. TRS MLA Konda Surekha wants Parakala Assembly ticket to her daughter Sushmitha. TRS MLAs N. Diwakar Rao and D.S. Redyanaik are also pushing the case of their sons.

In the Congress too, senior leaders are volunteering to contest the LS elections in lieu of the party nominating their kin for the Assembly elections.

The Komatireddy brothers — Venkata Reddy and Rajagopal Reddy — want to contest for the Lok Sabha and field their wives in the Assembly elections. Similarly, former deputy CM Damodar Raja Narasimha and TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka are trying to get their wives enter politics.

Senior Congress leaders K. Jana Reddy wants the party to field his son Raghu Reddy for the Miryalaguda seat. But he left the matter to the discretion of the party high command. Former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy is keen on getting her son Karthik contest from the Chevella LS seat.

Former ministers J. Geetha Reddy, and D.K. Aruna want to get their daughters — Meghana Reddy and Shruthi Reddy respectively — contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Another former minister Ponnala Laxmaiah seeks party ticket for his daughter-in-law Vaishali for the Assembly election as he is keen to contest for the Lok Sabha polls.

Senior TD leaders are also trying to get party tickets for their kin.