SR. CONGRESS LEADERS LINE UP FOR LS SEAT

MORE SENIORS are expect to apply by the time the process closes on Tuesday. The TPCC will shortlist the names by February 20 and send it to the high command. ■

Senior Congress leaders like V. Hanumantha Rao, Mallu Ravi and Patel Ramesh Reddy were among the 25 aspirants who applied for Lok Sabha nominations on Sunday.

Mr Hanumantha Rao who had failed to get the nomination from Amberpet during the Assembly elections has applied for the Khammam Lok Sabha seat, where the Congress performed well in December. Mr Ravi has opted for Nagarkurnool and Mr Ramesh Reddy, Nalgonda.

AICC Kisan Cell viceChairman M. Kodanda Reddy has applied for Bhongir and former Union minister P. Balaram Naik, who lost from Mahabubabad in December, wants the Mahabubabad Lok Sabha ticket

More seniors are expect to apply by the time the process closes on Tuesday. The TPCC will shortlist the names by February 20 and send it to the high command. Leaders were apprehensive that lobbying could delay the effort.

Keeping in view the problems caused by the late announcement of names for the Assembly election, the party wants to nominate its Lok Sabha candidates early to give them time to campaign. The AICC has asked all PCC chiefs to finish the selection procedure as early as possible.