Record 3,700 candidates filed their nominations in the 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana where polling is scheduled for April 30.
Another 472 candidates filed the nominations in 17 lok Sabha constituencies in the region till late Wednesday night. Papers were taken up for scrutiny on Thursday and Saturday will be the last day of withdrawal.As Wednesday was the last day of nominations, and it was believed to be an auspicious day, candidates made a beeline at the offices of election authorities to complete the formalities.
Ranga Reddy district with 14 Assembly constituencies saw the highest 638 nominations Khammam district, with 10 Assembly constituencies had the lowest number of nominations at 235.Of the 17 lok Sabha constituencies, the largest 81 number of nominations were filed in two constituencies of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, while the least number of 12 nominations were filed in Karimnagar and Peddapally constituencies.
Among the key lok Sabha constituencies, Medak will see a triangular contest between K Chandrasekhar Rao of the TRS, Shravan Kumar Reddy of the Congress and K Narendarnath of the BJP. In Hyderabad, the Congress has fielded Sama Krishna Reddy and the BJP has pitted Bhagwant Rao against sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi of the MIM.
In Malkajgiri, which is the biggest lok Sabha constituency in the State with 29 lakh voters, sitting MP and Minister Sarve Satyanrayana was locked in a multi-pronged contest with M Hanumantha Rao of TRS, Malla Reddy of Telugu Desam Party, Jayprakash Narayan of lok Satta and V Dinesh Reddy of YSRCP.
In Secunderabad, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded a retired IAS officer with a clean image Chhaya Ratan against sitting Congress MP Anjan Kumar Yadav, Bandaru Dattatreya of BJP, T Bheem Sen of TRS.
After continuing the suspense till the last minute, State BJP president G Kishan Reddy filed his nomination from Amberpet Assembly constituency, where he was elected twice. Kishan Reddy, disappointed over denial of lok Sabha ticket from Secunderabad, had decided to sit out but had to bow to the directions form party's central leadership and enter the fray. He will face a tough challenge from veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao. MIM has also fielded Sharad Babu from weaker sections against the BJP candidate while Welfare Party of India has fielded Fakhruddin.
All the major political parties are facing challenge of rebels with the disappointed aspirants entering the fray as Independents. An estimated 25 rebel candidates of various parties have entered the fray.TRS rebel candidates filed their nomination papers from several constituencies including sitting MlA of Parkal in Warangal Bhikshapati.
The Congress is also facing similar problems in Maheshwaram, Vikarabad, Devarkonda, Miryalaguda, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Warangal. Rebel Congress candidates of the BJP have filed papers in four constituencies.
For the TDP, the wave of resentment against alliance with the BJP has created serious problems. Party workers ransacked party offices in at least two districts. Situation took a serious turn in lB Nagar constituency of Hyderabad where rebel TDP candidates attacked the official candidate R Krishnaiah who joined the party recently.
With the nominations in Telangana coming to an end, the major political parties were now focusing on finalising the candidates list for Seemandhra.As Election Commission was scheduled to issue notification for 25 lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats in Seemandhra on Apirl 12, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu released the first list of 47 Assembly and seven lok Sabha candidates.
Though the name of film star N Balakrishna was missing from the first list, there was speculation that he may be fielded from Hindupur Assembly constituency.But Balakrishna said that he had still not decided whether to contest the polls or not. P Ashok Gajapati Raju, one of the senior most TDP leaders will be contesting from Vizianagaram lok Sabha constituency instead of Assembly and N Mohammed Farooq will be in the fray from Nandyal. Sitting MPs K Narayan Rao, Nimmala Kistappa and N Siva Prasad were renominated from their respective seats.