Ponguleti Likely To Be TRS Candidate For RS Bypoll

The TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti) is most likely to field former Khammam Lok Sabha member Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha By-election on 30th May.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the poll notification on 12th May and the last date to file a nomination is 19th May. The TRS winning this seat is a forgone conclusion given its numbers in the assembly.

The By-poll was required by the resignation of Rajya Sabha member Banda Prakash in December 2021 after the party sent him to the legislative council. As it is a by-poll, the term of the new Rajya Sabha member will be for two years and get expired on 2nd April 2024. Because of this reason, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy reportedly is not willing to contest this RS election.

According to the party sources, CM K. Chandrashekar Rao spoke to Srinivas Reddy over the phone on Friday and tried to convince him to accept this offer, promising that he would safeguard his political interests upon his retirement from the Rajya Sabha in 2024.