Parties move to woo rebels or quell rebels

Hyderabad: Worried at the threat posed by party rebels, the main political parties, the TRS and the Congress have identified the important constituencies where the rebels need to be pacified as only two days are left for withdrawal of nominations. 

The Congress faces a greater threat from rebels than the TRS. The TRS is facing threat from rebels in 10 Assembly constituencies and the Congress in 16. 

More worrying for the TRS and Congress is that the rebel candidates are saying in their campaign speeches that they will remain in their respective parties after they have won. This is one way of getting their own party cadre to support them against the official candidate.

The Congress has succeeded in convincing former Minister P. Shankar Rao and P. Karthik Reddy to withdraw their nominations. But former Mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Banda Karthika Reddy, has refused to withdraw her nomination and remains in the fray. Former minister P. Shankar Rao was so upset at being denied a ticket by the Congress for Shadnagar assembly constituency that he joined the Samajwadi party and was also nominated. He was persuaded to withdraw his nomination by AICC leaders and also resigned from the SP on Tuesday. He said in the interests of the Congress party as directed by the AICC leadership he has decided to withdraw his nomination and work for the victory of the Mahakutami. 

Former Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy’s son Karthik Reddy also withdrew his nomination from Rajendranagar assembly constituency as an Independent candidate.

AP Chief Minister and TD national chief N Chandrababu Naidu called all TD rebels to Amaravati and convinced them to support the party. Former MP Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy said that no rebel will be in the fray from the TD.