Velichala Rajender Rao, the Congress candidate from Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency is the son of the late Velichala Jagapathi Rao, the former Karimnagar MLA, AICC general secretary and a well-known Congress leader. Though Rajender Rao comes from a political family, he stayed out of politics till his father”s death in 2022.
However, following his father”s footsteps, Rajender Rao began to be an active politician by accepting the ticket provided by the Congress party from the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat.
Talking about his motivation to join politics, the Congress candidate in a recent interview with The Hans India, said that he nurtures a passion for public service inherited from his father. He noted the development works carried out by the grand old party and his family”s role in selfless service for the people of Karimnagar. He also discussed various plans and projects for his constituency. He also declared his commitment to addressing public issues through an app called ‘Kohinoor Karimnagar Sahayak’. The candidate also introduces himself as the one who is working to create a “Kohinoor Karimnagar.”
The constituency has been held by BJP”s Bandi Sanjay Kumar since the 2019 general elections. BJP had wrested the seat from Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) (now BRS)”s Vinod Kumar in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Notably, from 2009 to 2014, the constituency has been with the grand old party.
In a recent interview with Telangana Tribune, Jagapathi Rao criticised the other candidates, BRS”s former MP Vinod Kumar and BJP”s sitting MP Bandi Sanjay, for their alleged “lack of accomplishments in the constituency.” Both the parties have fielded their candidates again from the seat. The elections for the constituency will be held on May 13.
Notably, the Karimnagar Congress nominee was booked for the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for conducting a street corner meeting without prior permission. The Congress party had organised a street corner meeting in the surroundings of the Housing Board Colony library without obtaining prior permission. Since the flying squad in charge of the region lodged the complaint against Rajendra Rao, Karimnagar Town-III police have registered a case against him.
The 46-year-old postgraduate Rajendra Rao has over two crore assets, and has no criminal cases against him as per his affidavit filed before the Election Commission.