Campaigning ends for Warangal Lok Sabha by-poll

Curtains came down on a high-octane campaign, marred by a war of words between the ruling TRS and the opposition Congress and TDP-BJP combine, for the Warangal (SC) Lok Sabha constituency by-poll to be held on November 21. Upbeat over a thumping win in last year's elections, the ruling TRS fielded party leader P Dayakar and put up an aggressive campaign by making state ministers as in-charges for the assembly segments falling under the Warangal Lok Sabha constituency. The main opposition Congress, which sought to salvage its prestige following the drubbing in last year's election despite "delivering" on the separate statehood demand, suffered an early setback with its candidate S Rajaiah having to go to jail following the deaths in mysterious circumstances of his daughter-in-law and three children at his home in Warangal. Rajaiah withdrew his candidature and former Union Minister Sarve Satyanarayana became the Congress nominee. Overcoming the embarrassment, Congress ran a determined campaign with senior leaders like Sushil Kumar Shinde, Meira Kumar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC General Secretary (in-charge of party affairs in Telangana) Digvijay Singh and Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot canvassing for the party candidate. BJP fielded an NRI medical professional P Devaiah on behalf of the TDP-BJP combine. Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya, Hansraj Ahir, Telangana state president G Kishan Reddy and other party MLAs, besides key TDP Telangana leaders campaigned for the NDA candidate.