Khammam Conundrum: Congress Considers Fielding Priyanka Gandhi

With only three days remaining until the close of nominations for the general elections in Telangana, the Congress party has not yet selected its candidate for the Khammam parliamentary constituency, a stronghold of the party.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy are lobbying to get the ticket for their family members. However, the Grand Old Party is now considering Priyanka Gandhi as a candidate for Khammam, sparking discussions. Meanwhile, a decision is expected by this evening.

The battle for the Khammam seat has taken an interesting turn with Raghurama Reddy, Rayala Nageswara Rao, and former minister Mandava Venkateswara Rao all in the running. The Congress party has yet to decide on candidates for Khammam, Karimnagar, and Hyderabad.

In a surprising move, Raghurama Reddy filed his nomination without waiting for the party's official decision. Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka's recent trip to Kerala to meet with AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal has fueled further speculation about the Khammam seat.

Minister Ponguleti is also lobbying for his brother to win the Khammam seat. However, Priyanka Gandhi of the Gandhi family has emerged as a potential candidate. The final decision on her candidacy may hinge on where Rahul Gandhi decides to contest from. This development has added an extra layer of intrigue to the selection process.

There's talk within the Congress about fielding Priyanka Gandhi from two locations: one in North India and one in South India, possibly Roy Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh and Khammam. If Rahul Gandhi runs only from Wayanad, Priyanka might choose between Amethi or Roy Bareilly in UP. This strategy aims to represent Rahul Gandhi across both regions of India. A key meeting soon will likely shed more light on these decisions.