Congress aspirant cleans up for ticket

Khammam: Getting the party tickets is not an easy job for the aspirants, across the political spectrum.

To get a ticket, the aspirants go to any extent to attract the attention of the powers-that-be. Some try to appease the influential leaders in the party hierarchy while others organise programmes like padayatras or milk and fruit distribution to patients in hospitals. They also try to show their clout and popularity by parading hundreds of their followers.

However, Eeda Seshagiri Rao, a leader aspiring for the Congress ticket from Palair Assembly segment, has a much “cleaner” approach. He is sprucing up the statues of former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi located in Khammam and various villages in Palair segment. He has given the statues a fresh coat of paint that expresses his adoration for the late leaders.

When asked about his novel approach, Mr Seshagiri Rao said: “I do not want to make a hue and cry while seeking the party ticket. I am trying to show my aspiration by honouring the great leaders like Indira and Rajiv. The statues were discoloured and I wanted to make them attractive.”

Interestingly, he is seeking the ticket for Palair that is being defended by Tummala Nageswara Rao. The caretaker minister had won the seat by a margin of 45,682 votes in 2014.

Mr Seshagiri Rao, a lawyer by profession, has extended his assistance in Shakti app promoted by AICC president Rahul Gandhi. He insists that the party should give at least one ticket to the Backward Classes.

There are 10 Assembly segments in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts of which five seats are reserved to STs and two for SCs.

The three remaining seats — Khammam, Palair and Kothagudem — are for the general category.

Mr Seshagiri Rao says that the Congress should allocate one seat in open category to BCs, who form about 50 per cent of the voters in the state. He says he is confident of victory if the Congress gives him the ticket.

Likewise, former minister Vanama Venkateswara Rao, who is trying to get the Congress ticket for Kothagudem, plans a show of strength in front of TPCC leaders by mobilising his followers. He wants to impress upon the party not to give the seat to the CPI as part of seat sharing.

Granite businessman from Khammam V. Ravichandra too is trying to impress key leaders in the Congress by meeting  them regularly and seeking their blessings. He is one of the aspirants for the Khammam ticket.