Hyderabad’s political corridors hummed with activity as Congress stalwarts Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narender Reddy lodged their Rajya Sabha nomination papers from Telangana on Thursday—the cutoff date for the March 16 elections. Submitted to Returning Officer Upendra Reddy in the legislative assembly, the process was steered by Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu.
The filing drew a formidable Congress contingent, headlined by TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders, exuding confidence and cohesion. The high command’s choice of Singhvi for another stint underscores his legal brilliance and parliamentary gravitas, indispensable for the party’s broader ambitions.
First-timer Narender Reddy, a key advisor to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, edges out veteran contenders, spotlighting his pivotal role in the party’s Telangana operations. Triggered by the April 9 expiry of terms for Singhvi and BRS’s K.R. Suresh Reddy, the biennial polls face no opposition from BRS, paving the way for consensus elections.
With 66 MLAs in the 119-member house, Congress pairs seamlessly with CPI’s one and AIMIM’s seven seats. BRS’s 37 is undermined by 10 recent joiners to Congress pre-2024 elections, dwarfing BJP’s eight. This numerical supremacy ensures the duo’s unhindered entry into Rajya Sabha, amplifying Congress’s voice in national lawmaking.