The studious silence of four key TRS leaders is now baffling the party leadership. These four heavyweight leaders who were defeated in the 2018 elections have remained in the margins as their arch rivals joined the TRS. But with elections less than a year away the moves of these leaders are being keenly watched.
In the 2018 assembly elections TRS leaders Vemula Veeresam of Nakrekal Jalagam Venkat Rao of Kothagudem Jupalli Krishna Rao of Kollapur and Teegala Krishna Reddy of Maheswaram were defeated by Congress candidates Chirumarthi Lingaiah, Vanama Venkateswarlu Harshavardhan Reddy and Sabitha Indra Reddy respectively. In the later developments all the victorious Congress leaders had joined the TRS and Sabitha even went on to become a minister.
Since then the defeated TRS leaders are in a limbo with the party completely ignoring them. With the elections barely 14 or 15 months away these leaders are now becoming active and are exploring future possibilities. Some of the leaders have demonstrated that they are still powerful by getting their nominees elected in the local body elections. For instance Jupalli Krishna Raos nominees won in big numbers in Kollapur.
If sources are to be believed at least some leaders are said to be in touch with either the Congress or the BJP. In fact Teegala had already met the BJP leaders and is planning to jump into the party at the right time. Jalagam is hoping that he could be given the TRS ticket as his rival Vanama is in the dock over the misdemeanors of his son Vanama Raghava. But the other two Jupalli and Vemula find themselves hitting a road block. Their future moves are now being keenly watched.