Journalists in the poll fray !

TRS party's probable candidates are in T Channel ...err HMTV as per the information. KCR's latest statement that three more journalists are going to get tickets in the next elections made them happy. Mr. Ramalinga Reddy, who was with Vaarta earlier was given a ticket from Medak district and he won the seat against a senior TDP leader Mr. Mutyam Reddy twice. Similarly, the TRS chief is hopeful of winning if some seats are allocated to journalists. So he has decided to give tickets to three journalists and all of them are in HMTV. ( No comments whether it is a sheer coincidence or the birds of a feather flocked together). Mr.Narayan Reddy, Chief Reporter, Political Bureau and Mr. Virahat Ali, Asst Chief News Coordinator are aspirants of tickets from Medak district while the Input Editor/Chief News Coordinator of the channel Mr. Laxmaiah is an aspirant of MP ticket from Peddapalli.

Interestingly, Mr. Sailesh Reddy of Zee Telugu who tried for a ticket both from Congress and TDP during last elections may also try his luck this time.But the name of the Party is still unclear. Mr. Madduleti of Vaarta from Kurnool district tried Congree ticket to fight against Mr. B.V. Mohan Reddy last time. He is trying once again.Mr. Khuda Baksh of Andhra Prabha tried Kadiri (Anantapur dist) Congress ticket last time but missed. He is again on his efforts this time.

News is that there are three aspirants in Chiranjeevi's Praja Raajyam too. Mr. Satti Babu, a senior photo journalist from East Godavari has already entered the inner circle of the party. He is now incharge of the media at Chiru's office and has been overseeing the arrangements for the media. Mr. Parameswar Rao, a senior journalist from Srikakulam dist has also joined the party though his aspirations are not clearly spelled out. Mr. Kanna Babu and Mr. Narasimha Rao of Eenadu are already named by the so called inner circle as the probable candidates.APUWJ president Mr. Somasundaram is also trying for a ticket. However, he is in a dilemma whether to join the party directly or wait till Lok Satta ties up with Praja rajyam and contest on Lok Satta ticket.Though the name of Mr. Murthy (NTV)is also doing rounds in Media circles, his friends dismiss it as a mere rumour.

Earlier, Mr. K. Keshava Rao, a journalist became Minister, PCC Chief, and later Rajya Sabha member in Congress. Mr. Laxma Reddy, a close relative of Marri Channa Reddy and the founder of NSS ( a news agency ) contested from Hyderabad Loksabha Constituency unsuccessfully. From TDP side, Mr. Kalva Srinivasulu became MP and now one of the General Secretaries of the party after being defeated in 2004. While the owners of the media organisations are keen on Council and Rajya Sabha tickets, journos are interested in fighting the polls with their field experience.