Huzurabad by-poll: Kaushik Reddy nominated as MLC, TRS may field fresh face

The state cabinet took this decision keeping in mind by-election to the Huzurabad constituency. Chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao here on Sunday, the cabinet approved the nomination and sent it to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for formal approval.

Kaushik Reddy was the Congress candidate from Huzurabad Assembly Constituency in 2018 election. He was defeated by the then TRS leader Eatala Rejender. He had come second and polled 61,000 votes

Eatala Rejender recently resigned from the assembly after land grabbing charges were filed against him by the KCR government. He is going to contest the by-election on a BJP ticket.

After nominating Kaushik Reddy to Upper House, the TRS has made it clear that he will not be in the fray for the by-election. Speculations are rife that TRS may field a new face.

Kaushik Reddy joined the TRS only on July 21 and his elevation as MLC within 10 days of joining the party proves the significance being given by the Chief Minister to the 36-year youth leader in the party.

Kaushik Reddy will fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Prof Srinivas Reddy in June. He was an office-bearer of the State committee of Congress until his resignation from the party last month.

Meanwhile, the state cabinet fixed August 16 as the launch date for Dalit Bandhu's pilot project in Huzurabad. The Cabinet asked the administration to be ready for the launch of the pilot scheme.

It was decided that Dalit Bandhu should have statutory backing by bringing legislation to ensure that unspent funds meant for SCs' welfare are carried forward to the following year's budget.

KCR said that SCs, who constituted 20 percent of the population, owned only 13 lakh acres of land.