Sangareddy: Patlolla Sanjeeva Reddy, a doctor who became a politician, has won the Narayankhed Assembly seat in the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections. He ran as the candidate for the Congress party.
Sanjeeva Reddy first started his political career with the BJP during the 2018 elections but later switched to the Congress to advance his political goals. Narayankhed, where he won, is one of the most underdeveloped areas and has a complicated political environment. The constituency is located near the border of Telangana and Karnataka and includes four mandals in Narayankhed town.
The Andole constituency, where Narayankhed is located, has long been a stronghold for the Congress party. A by-election was held after the passing of Kishta Reddy, a sitting MLA from this area. The political landscape in the district is significantly influenced by the families of Patlolla and Shetkar, who have been contesting for both assembly and parliament seats as Congress candidates.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the seat went to Suresh Kumar Shetkar, who was an alliance candidate. This led to Sanjeeva Reddy joining the BJP, which allowed the BRS party to win the seat. However, in 2023, Sanjeeva Reddy returned to the Congress. His return, combined with strong anti-incumbency against the BRS candidate, the Congress party’s focus on development, and his connection with the people, helped him secure victory in the recent elections.
Despite his win, Sanjeeva Reddy faces significant challenges ahead. Like those before him, he must tackle issues such as drinking water shortages and the migration of people from Narayankhed in search of better livelihoods.
