The BJP has announced 35 candidates for the upcoming polls, bringing the total to 88 candidates in the first, second, and third lists for the 119 Assembly segments. The party is still deciding on seat sharing with NDA alliance partners and Jana Sena (JSP). The fourth list will be released in the next few days after the election notification is announced.
In the third list of candidates, the party has allocated three seats for STs and five seats for SCs. Challa Srilatha Reddy is the only woman candidate in the list and will contest from Huzurnagar. Nominees for Musheerabad and Amberpet have also been announced. Poosa Raju will run from Musheerabad, previously represented by Rajya Sabha MP Dr K Laxman. Former minister Krishna Yadav will contest from Amberpet, previously represented by MP and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.
There is confusion over the Andole seat, which has been allotted to Palle Mohan Babu, as he has announced that he will not be contesting. Out of the 88 candidates announced by the party, 22 are SCs and STs, 33 are BCs, and 33 are OCs. There are also 13 women candidates.
Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar highlighted that the BJP is the only party to have an OBC as the Prime Minister and leaders from dalit, minority, and ST communities. He criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and BRS executive president KT Rama Rao for insulting BCs and called for both parties to be chased away.
Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh criticized Congress and BRS for cheating BCs and conspiring to prevent a BC from becoming Chief Minister. He urged BCs, who make up 50% of the State’s population, to show their strength and teach a lesson to both parties. Singh expressed confidence that the BJP will come to power in the State and make a BC the CM. He appealed to the people to think and give their verdict.
