Balka Suman’s Win, A Matter Of Pride For TRS In Chennur

Anvesh Reddy

The Chennur constituency in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district was in the news after caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) announced the 105 TRS candidates to contest in the December 7 Assembly polls. Chennur, along with Andole in Medak district were the two constituencies in which the TRS denied tickets to sitting MLAs Nallala Odelu and Babu Mohan, who are three-time MLAs from Chennur and Andole respectively. Interestingly, both the constituencies are reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

Raising many an eyebrow after premature dissolution of the Legislative Assembly, KCR announced Peddapally MP Balka Suman as the TRS's Chennur candidate--drawing the angst of Odelu and his cadre. While Odelu locked himself in a room in protest, Regunta Gattaiah, a staunch Odelu supporter, set himself ablaze in protest following the announcement. Gattaiah later died while receiving treatment in a Hyderabad hospital.

Meanwhile, Balka Suman has ever since been aggressive in his poll campaign in the constituency, where he already had a dedicated cadre. With a population share of 30.3% in 1,55,153 total voters, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes form a deciding factor. Traditionally a Congress bastion and later a TDP stronghold, the TRS was strengthened in the constituency only in the recent times thanks to Odelu's efforts.

Will KCR's confidence in the TRS MP prove to be right?

On the other side, Dr. Borlakunta Venkatesh Netha, a first timer, has been fielded by the Congress in the SC reserved constituency. However, analysts feel that the Congress missed the trick by ignoring Gaddam Vinod, who is in the TRS but offered to contest as a Congress candidate. Vinod, brother of Telangana governement advisor G.Vivek, stood second to Odelu in 2009, 2010 and 2014 elections. Odelu defeated Vinod with a 26,164 vote majority in 2014.

Also Read: Telangana Assembly Elections: 3584 Candidates, 119 Constituencies