Selective action against rebels

Hyderabad, April 8: The four-party Mahakutami has “ditched” some of its “official” nominees and is now supporting strong rebel candidates. Mahakutami sources said that under a secret pact agreed upon by the TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the TRS president, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, both leaders have decided to look the other way in case of certain rebels.

These “lucky’ rebels include TD’s Mr Teegala Krishna Reddy, who is contesting against the TRS official nominee, Mr K. Prabhakar Reddy, in Maheshwaram Assembly constituency; TRS’ Capt. Laxmikantha Rao, who is taking on the official CPI nominee, Mr Chada Venkat Reddy in Husnabad; and Telugu Desam’s Secunderabad MP candidate, Mr S. Sudhish Rambhoti, who is contesting against the official TRS nominee, Mr M.D. Mahmood Ali.
The TRS chief openly campaigned for Capt. Rao in the Husnabad. He told the voters: “Support Capt. Rao. I had offered another seat to Mr Chada Venkat Reddy, but he did not agree. If you vote for the CPI nominee, it is as good as dumping your vote in a gutter.”
Similarly, the Maheshwaram seat was officially allotted to the TRS. But Mr Krishna Reddy is openly campaigning in defiance of the TD supremo’s orders.
“I have good support. I am confident of a win,” he said.
When asked why he had not withdrawn from the race despite Mr Naidu’s orders, he said, “Mr Naidu did not speak to me.”
Sources said the TRS chief had spoken to Mr Krishna Reddy and had promised to “attach” the TRS nominee to him. This means the TRS candidate would just be a dummy.
Same is the fate of the TRS candidate, Mr M.D. Mahamood Ali.