In Hyderabad, there is growing political tension as more people are vying for the Congress ticket for the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat. The candidates who have officially applied include senior party members like M R G Vinod Reddy, Sama Ram Mohan Reddy, B Venugopal Swamy, Vidya Sravanthi, Dr S Ravinder Goud, and others. The recent joining of Bonthu Rammohan, a former Mayor, has made him a top contender. The family of Mothe Srilatha Shoban Reddy, the current Deputy Mayor, is also considering switching to the ruling party.
Vinod Reddy has been with the party for 35 years, starting from his days in NSUI as a student in Hyderabad. Sama Ram Mohan Reddy is known for his active presence in national TV debates and has a good rapport with national leadership. The party is considering various factors like caste and financial background while choosing the candidate, despite the push from PCC leadership for loyal and hardworking members to be given priority.
During the recent Assembly elections, 25% of Congress candidates were turncoats. The upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the approaching summer are expected to further intensify the political atmosphere within the party. More turncoats, including Mothe Shoban Reddy, are likely to join the Congress in the coming days.
