HYDERABAD: Former minister Eatala Rajender is most likely to contest the bypoll to Huzurabad Assembly constituency and not one of his family members.
Even the BJP top brass has insisted that Eatala should enter the electoral fray seeking re-election and give a strong reply to the ruling TRS by retaining the seat.
Though the TRS leadership has been working day and night to wean away supporters from his camp and openly support the ruling party, the second and third rung leadership and cadre have vowed allegiance to Eatala in the constituency.
Sources in the former minister’s camp said that though Eatala had asked for a union ministry and a Rajya Sabha seat, the saffron party did not promise Eatala any of the two.
He was told to contest and win the election after which he would be rewarded suitably, and that the BJP and its frontal organisations would go all out to ensure his victory.
Eatala is expected to submit his resignation to the Speaker on Monday or Tuesday.
With Eatala to enter the electoral fray on BJP ticket, for the first time after the formation of Telangana state Huzurabad Assembly constituency is likely to witness a close triangular contest, which otherwise saw a straight battle between the TRS and Congress and Eatala winning the seat with huge majority in 2018 and 2014 Assembly polls.
While the Congress is banking on a major vote split of TRS as Eatala would be cutting into the ruling party vote bank, to win the seat, the BJP is banking on the strong network developed over the years by the former minister in his constituency to work wonders for him in the by-poll.
The saffron party will rope in its star campaigners from the national level depending upon the prospects of the party as the polling day nears.
A senior leader in the TRS said the name of B Vinod Kumar, former MP from Karimnagar and presently the vice-chairman of State Planning Board is among serious consideration with the TRS leadership to be fielded to take on a formidable Eatala in his own constituency.
While the AICC high command will take a final decision on the candidature, P Kaushik Reddy of the Congress, who lost to Eatala in 2018-Assembly polls has already covered nearly 30 villages as part of his campaign.