KCR PICKS NEPHEW FOR RS

HYDERABAD, MARCH 11

Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief and TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced the party’s candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats on Sunday. As expected, the CM’s nephew and a Telugu News Channel MD, Joginapally Santosh Kumar (old Karimnagar district), has been nominated.

TRS chief and CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said that he will not quit state politics till the 2019 elections, even though he is playing a crucial role in national politics to float the non-Congress, non-BJP Third Front.

He said TRS leaders could be booked to create panic and block Third Front attempts.

Mr Rao said TRS will win 106 seats out of 119 in the Assembly elections in 2019 and will make a clean sweep within GHMC limits along with the MIM, according to the latest survey by professional and independent survey agencies.

However, Mr Rao kept the party guessing on what would be his role after the 2019 elections.

All the party's MLAs and MLCs attended the meeting and the party's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members were also invited to attend.

Mr Rao handed over responsibility for the Rajya Sabha elections to his son, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, finance minister Etela Rajender and energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy. Mr Rao is learnt to have assured tickets to all sitting MLAs barring three or four 'problematic' MLAs and asked those to mend their ways.

He was particularly angry with MLA Bodige Shobha for assaulting staff of a toll plaza a few months ago after she was asked to pay toll tax; the CM warned that such incidents will bring disrepute to the party and government.

The CM was also upset at MLAs Gangula Kamalakar and Vidyasagar for reacting angrily in the House for even minor issues and asked them to remain calm.

The CM told ministers and MLAs to come to the House well prepared and counter the Opposition's attack with facts and figures.

He cautioned that the Congress party may try to disrupt the Governor's speech on Monday but the treasury benches should maintain restraint.