TRS defies norm, fields Tummala in Palair

Defying the norm that the kin of a deceased MLA would be allowed to ensure a unanimous election, Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao on Wednesday night enetered the fray for the Palair seat in Khammam following the death of the Public Accounts Committee Chairman Ramreddy Venkatreddy. Throwing the niceties to the winds, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao took the decision to field Tummala in the bypoll. On his part, Tummala went to the extent of saying even if the opposition united on the norm, his success in the bypoll was a foregone conclusion. Congress working president in Telangana Bhatti Vikramarka had demanded a unanimous election for the Palair seat on account of the services of Ramreddy Venkatreddy. He appealed for a unanimous election of the kin of the departed leader. Failing which, Bhatti said the opposition would field a common candidate. The Ruling TRS would have none of it, having flouted the norm in Narayankhed itself. In fact, Tummala took it as a matter of prestige, saying his success was a cakewalk in Palair. In fact, Tummala said he had been wanting to contest from Palair for long, but he had not got the chance. Now that he is entitled to it, he would not let it go. Whatever his party leader KCR said, he would implement it.