TRS Party supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao’s appointed T Harish Rao as the incharge of Warangal East Assembly segment to ensure the victory of the party candidate in the Warangal Lok Sabha. Harish, who opposed Konda Surekha’s entry into the TRS, is not willing to campaign with her in the by-election. The rivalry between Harish and Konda Surekha dates back to a long time became sour after the Manukota firing incident in 2010 in which police opened fire on protestors who hurled stones at YSR Congress leaders. Then in YSR Congress Party, Konda Surekha allegedly used foul language against Harish.
While, his brother-in-law KT Rama Rao (KTR) has been entrusted with the duty of looking after Warangal West Assembly segment, where MLA D Vinay Bhaskar is doing all he can to get a huge majority. While appointing ministers as in-charge for all seven Assembly segments for the by-poll, KCR said that these in-charges would be responsible for the results of the by-elections.
Harish Rao followers are worried Post 2014 elections, the TRS hold in the Warangal East Assembly segment is on the slide considerably while party’s hold in Warangal West Assembly constituency is intact. In that case vote share in Warangal East segment may decreases and Warangal West will rise will have an adverse effect on Harish’s image. They feel he was assigned Warangal East to sabotage his image.
It is open secret both the leaders were trying for ascendency in the party, Harish is in catch 22. He has to make nice with Konda Surekha and also have to ensure a sizable majority in the by-election from his assigned constituency.
All the ministers, who were made in-charges of Assembly segments have conducted meetings on November 1 except Harish. Harish didn’t even accommodate the TRS candidate Pasunuri Dayakar filed nomination papers on November 4. He even missed the party workers meeting that evening.
All other constituencies are in full campaign mode, Warangal East is lagging way behind. Harish Rao was scheduled to attend party workers’ meeting in the East constituency on Saturday and no one is sure whether he will turn up.
