Hyderabad: With just a day left for filing nominations, 16 aspirants are in the fray for two Rajya Sabha seats from Telangana. The race has turned into an intense political battle, with heavy lobbying by veterans, seniors and younger aspirants before the Congress high command.Prominent names in contention include Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, Vem Narender Reddy, V Hanumanth Rao, Anantula Shyam Mohan, G Chinna Reddy, Ch Vamshi Chand Reddy, Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Dr P Vinay Kumar, Dommati Sambaiah, C Rohin Reddy and Mohammed Ali Shabbir. TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud confirmed that 16 aspirants are in the fray for the two seats. “During Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the DCC chiefs training camp in Vikarabad on Monday, we discussed Rajya Sabha candidate selection at the airport. A list of 16 aspirants was submitted to Rahul Gandhi,” the TPCC chief said. The list submitted to Rahul Gandhi reportedly includes leaders from diverse social backgrounds, including four from Backward Classes communities. “The selection process is in the final stages and the names are likely to be announced late in the night (on Tuesday) or on Wednesday,” he said. Sources indicated that the AICC may name one candidate directly while leaving the second choice to chief minister A Revanth Reddy. Sources did not rule out the possibility of Revanth flying to Delhi on Wednesday to finalise the candidates. Dr Vinay eyes berthThe scramble has drawn in multiple contenders. Senior gastroenterologist and Samvidhan Bachao Committee chairman Dr Vinay Kumar is seeking fulfilment of the party’s commitment made at the time of his return to the Congress. Party veteran and TPCC disciplinary action committee vice-chairman Shyam Mohan met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru recently, pressing his claim and submitting details of his nearly five-decade-long association with the party.Singhvi frontrunnerMahesh Goud acknowledged that Singhvi is a frontrunner but stressed that nothing is final until the AICC formally announces the names. On speculation around Justice Reddy, he said discussions are on but the former Supreme Court judge has not formally sought a nomination. “The Congress govt will soon fill up some of the state-run corporation chairpersons and directors’ posts,” Mahesh Goud added.
