HYDERABAD: The
Talasani scion was a ‘surprise package’ as the contours of
Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency saw a dramatic change in the last two days. It is going to be a ‘fresh face’ crossing swords with two veterans — one, a two-time MP from the Congress and the other, a three-time MLA from the BJP. But, 32-year-old ‘fresher’
Talasani Sai Kiran Yadav, son of Sanathnagar MLA and animal husbandry minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, believes he is here to upset the apple cart of both former MP Anjan Kumar Yadav and ex-MLA G Kishan Reddy.
Sai Kiran, who is making his electoral debut, has been active in politics in recent years developing a support base for himself in Secunderabad. Though the TRS has never won the Secunderabad seat, Sai Kiran thinks he will turn the tide in favour of the ruling party. He is basing his confidence on the number of votes secured by the TRS in all the assembly constituencies under the Secunderabad LS seat in the December 2018 elections.
Notwithstanding Sai Kiran’s confidence, BJP is hopeful of retaining the seat. “I am humbled by my selection as a party nominee from Secunderabad,” Kishan said, thanking Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. Kishan came in place of sitting MP and former Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who was dropped. Kishan himself lost the assembly polls from Amberpet but is optimistic he would turn the corner in the LS polls. TRS candidate Kaleru Venkatesh polled 61,558 votes, while Kishan got 60,542 votes in Amberpet. The close margin of victory is giving hope to Kishan who is also set to reap the ‘good work’ done by Dattatreya in the constituency.
Another claimant is Anjan, who held the seat twice before. He had won the seat in the 2004 and 2009 polls but lost to Dattatreya in 2014. Anjan had to fight competition from within the Congress to make sure he made the cut. Former Goshamahal MLA Mukesh Goud had set his eyes on the seat either for himself or for his son Vikram Goud. Former Indian cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin too was interested. However, the party leadership chose Anjan, keeping in mind the sizeable Yadav voters in the constituency.
In 2014, MIM had fielded Narla Mohan Rao, who received 1.45 lakh votes. Sources said if MIM decides against entering the race, it would be extending support to Sai Kiran.