Cong shifts focus on luring strong rivals, readjust tickets
The Hindu
Congress party’s central leadership has started a calculated exercise to woo strong leaders from the rival parties in Telangana and re-adjust the tickets among aspiring partymen to avoid any post-allotment fallout.
HYDERABAD
Sensing that a strong under current in favour of the party is visible, Congress party’s central leadership has started a calculated exercise to woo strong leaders from the rival parties and re-adjust the tickets among aspiring partymen to avoid any post-allotment fallout.
Towards this end, the party, according to highly placed sources, is in two minds on naming its candidate to take on Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in Kamareddy assembly constituency. It was a foregone conclusion that former CLP leader Md. Ali Shabbir, senior Congress leader and former Minister, would take on KCR.
However, there are indications emanating from the party circles that Mr. Shabbir may not contest the elections and he would be rewarded with a seat as an MLC once the party comes to power. Facing stiff competition among the strong leaders in Kamareddy, Yellareddy and Banswada assembly constituencies in Kamareddy district under Zaheerabad Lok Sabha constituency, AICC leaders are exploring the possibility of accommodating the aspirants in these three seats.
It is understood that name of Madan Mohan Rao, son-in-law of BRS Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao is being considered for Yellareddy constituency and Kamareddy too. A Velama, the same caste of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, the party feels that if Mr. Madan Mohan is fielded from Kamareddy they will be able to solve the possible heartburn among the strong aspirants in Yellareddy.
Two others contenders – Subhash Reddy and Enugu Ravinder Reddy, former BRS MLA, who returned to the Congress fold from BJP, might be accommodated between Yellareddy and Banswada constituencies. “By sending the three leaders to different constituencies, the party will be able to overcome dissidence,” a senior TPCC functionary said.
In Nizamabad Urban constituency, where TPCC working President Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud is a strong aspirant, the party is learnt to be veering towards search for a Muslim candidate. Nizamabad Urban constituency has a strong Muslim presence, which backed the BRS last time. By giving a ticket to a Muslim candidate, it intends to lure the sizable section, leaders point out.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.