The choice of journalist-turned politician Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar as the Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat for which several senior leaders and rich corporate heads had lobbied, has surprised every one. It is now being said that the Congress High Command had an inkling that K Kesava Rao was planning to contest as an independent and brought in Rapolu to scuttle his attempts. It is learnt that the Congress had pre-empted the attempt of KK as he would not have liked to contest against Rapolu, a poor BC candidate.
It is being said that KK was telling other senior leaders of Congress that he would contest as an independent and surely defeat the official Congress nominee. KK was hoping for the support of the TRS, some Congress and TDP dissidents. It is learnt that he told some leaders that he had a promise of 46 votes and would easily win the RS seat. However, he dare not do it as he did not like to be blamed to have defeated Ananda Bhaskar who was also from Telangana and a BC candidate.
It is learnt that KK has been stating to other Congress leaders that though Sonia Gandhi was favourable to his candidature, it was the CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy who played the spoil sport. (NSS)