Eyeing a second term as chief minister Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday filed his nomination from Gajwel assembly constituency even as main Opposition party Congress struggled to declare its full list of candidates amidst growing discontent among ticket aspirants and failed to resolve seat sharing issues with alliance partner Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).

Although Congress on Wednesday declared a second list comprising 10 names taking the number of declared candidates to 75 its alliance partner TJS upped its ante saying that it will contest 12 seats, four more than what Congress had decided to leave for TJS.

The TJS spokesperson made it clear that the party will not allow any friendly fights or double candidates in the fray. Among the 10 candidates declared by Congress, seven had been defeated in the previous election. For instance, in Sircilla, KK Mahender Reddy has lost several times to KT Rama Rao, the IT and Panchayati Raj minister in TRS government and son of the chief minister but he has been given a ticket this time as well.

Former PCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah’s name was, however, missing from the second list too since alliance partner TJS chief M Kodandram is eyeing the same Jangaon constituency. There has been increasing disgruntlement in Congress camp because of caste equations with Backward classes complaining that they have been given only 15 seats while another dominant caste has got more seats disproportionate to their population.

The Congress leaders tried to placate the rebels saying those who are not getting a ticket will be recognised and rewarded for their sacrifices later on and urged them to work for the candidates of the alliance.

Meanwhile, accompanied by his nephew and campaign manager T Harish Rao who is contesting from neighbouring Siddipet Mr Rao went by the auspicious timing of 2:34 pm and handed over his nomination paper to the officials.

The caretaker CM, who is known to offer prayers to Lord Venkateshwara before all his electoral battles visited the temple this time too before filing his nomination papers.