TRS fields PV's daughter Vani Devi for MLC polls

TRS has decided to field former Prime Minister late P V Narasimha Rao’s daughter Surabhi Vani Devi as its candidate for the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar Graduates MLC constituency.

TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Sunday finalised the candidature of Vani Devi who is a noted artist, social activist and also founder of Sri Venkateshwara Group of Educational Institutions. She is expected to file her nomination papers on Monday.

Sources said Vani Devi’s name was considered for the MLC seat as a fitting tribute to Narasimha Rao, whose birth centenary is being celebrated in a grand manner across the State. A practising artist and educationist for the past 35 years, Vani Devi is the founder of Sri Venkateshwara College of Fine Arts, Sri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy, and Sri Venkateshwara College of Architecture at Madhapur in Hyderabad, apart



from heading Surabhi Dayakar Rao College of Pharmacy at Gajwel, Swami Ramananda Theertha Memorial Model School at Begumpet. She is also in-charge chairperson and general secretary of Swami Ramananda Theertha Memorial Committee. As an artist, she has held more than 15 solo exhibitions in India and abroad since 1973.

The TRS has fielded incumbent MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy from Nalgonda-Warangal-Khammam graduates constituency again. The Congress has fielded Ramulu Naik and K Chinna Reddy from Nalgonda-Warangal-Khammam and Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar constituencies respectively. The BJP nominees for these two constituencies are Premender Reddy and N Ramchander Rao respectively.

The last date for filing of nomination for elections to two MLC constituencies is Tuesday. Polling will be held on March 14 followed by counting on March 17.