Hyderabad: Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is in no mood for compassion when it comes to encashing its ever growing popularity and strength in the Legislative Assembly.Setting aside the tradition of leaving an Assembly seat where a member dies to his or her kin in by-elections, TRS decided to contest Paleru by-election and it's not just casual effort this time - the party is fielding senior minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao in the fray.

TRS is trying to grab the opportunity to strengthen its roots in Khamma district where the party could not put up an impressive show in the 2014 general elections.

The Assembly seat fell vacant with the death of Congress MLA Ramreddy Venkata Reddy who was also the chairman of Public Accounts Committee in the House. It has been a tradition to leave the seat for the kin of the deceased member or any other candidate from the same party. However, TRS had contested and won Narayankhed by-election which was necessitated due to the death of Congress MLA Patlolla Kishta Reddy. TRS's Mahareddy Bhupal Reddy defeated Patlolla Sanjeeva Reddy, the son of the deceased MLA, with a huge margin of over 53,000 votes.

The party is so serious about winning Paleru seat that it's fielding senior leader and minister Tummala, who is already a member of Legislative Council. Moreover, the IT and Panchayati Raj minister KT Rama Rao has been entrusted with the election responsibility. Although the party is confident about winning the seat given the growing popularity of the ruling party, it wants to ensure a big win.

The Congress has decided to field the wife of the deceased MLA, Sucharita Reddy, so that it could gain sympathy vote. With the TRS planning to contest the by-election, TDP is also narrowing down on its candidate. The party's candidate in the last general election Swarna Kumari or another senion leader Nama Nageshwara Rao could be the TDP's pick.

Expressing confidence about his victory in the by-election, Tummala on Thursday said the party decision has come as a pleasant surprise for him as he wanted to get elected in direct elections. "I have very good relation with the people of Paleru and they know me very well. People will vote for the development of Telangana," he said.