BRS planning to field DCCB vice-chairman Pingili Ramesh against Etala Rajender from Huzurabad assembly segment
Ramesh is a close confidant of Mr Rajender and strived for his victory in all elections from 2009 to 2018 and also belongs to Mudiraj community and has a considerable sway among the SC\ST\BCs and minorities
Having good relations with farmers following his association as Jammikunta AMC chairman on two terms
KARIMNAGAR, AUGUST 5, 2023: With the Bharath Rashtra Samithi losing its stronghold Huzurabad assembly segment to BJP candidate and its rebel and former Minister Mr Etala Rajender in the by-elections, the BRS leadership is contemplating fielding Rajender’s ‘loyalist’ and Karimnagar District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB) Vice Chairman Pingili Ramesh in the ensuing elections from the Huzurabad assembly segment.
Mr Ramesh, a former sarpanch from Vilasagar village of Jammikunta mandal in the year 2001 and was associated with the TDP. He joined the TRS in the year 2009 before its president Mr K Chandrashekhar Rao and since then he was a close confidant of Huzurabad legislator Etala Rajender. Mr Ramesh, who also belongs to the same Mudiraj community as Etala Rajender, played a crucial role in the victory of Mr Rajender in all the elections from 2009, 2010 by-elections, 2014 and 2018 elections.
Mr Eatala Rajender, who was a Minister in the KCR government for two consecutive terms, resigned as MLA after he was removed from the party over allegations of land grabbing. The Huzurabad MLA earlier developed differences with Mr. KCR for his political comments that he too was the owner of the TRS flag and not a tenant, indicating that he was being sidelined in the party.
In the 2021 by-elections, the BRS had fielded a BC candidate Gellu Srinivas and campaigned rigorously, but he was defeated at the hands of Mr Rajender. Later, the party decided to field MLC Padi Kaushik Reddy from the Huzurabad assembly segment. But he is involved in several controversies insulting a farmer during Telangana decennial celebrations, using foul language against Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, demolishing martyrs’ statues and abusing people of the Mudiraj community. He has turned out to be a headache for BRS leadership.
Party thought of the candidature of former Minister E Peddi Reddy. But, it had analysed that Mr Peddi Reddy was away from his constituency since his defeat in the 2004 elections. He also remained an ‘outdated’ politician in the constituency.
After collecting the intelligence reports, the BRS party high command is zeroing in on fielding DCCB vice chairman Pingili Ramesh against Etala Rajender and cash on ‘Mudiraj’ community votes and also SC\ST\BC and minorities votes. Because of the non-controversial image and close relations with the Reddy communities, the party is confident of securing the support of the Reddy’s as well.
Mr Ramesh is having close relations with farmers following his association with the Jammikunta Agricultural market committee chairman on two terms. During his tenure as AMC chairman, Mr Ramesh abolished 30 kgs of waste per tractor load of cotton benefitting the farmers to the tune of Rs 12 crore to Rs 16 crore per season, which is still in vogue in the market. He is also honorary president of AMC Hamili sangham and Huzurabad RTC depot employees association.
