Congress ire spills over at HQ ahead of poll list

Hyderabad: Even before the full list is announced, the Congress leadership had come under fire from its leaders including some senior politicians. Senior leaders like Komatireddy Venkata Reddy staged a protest while former PCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah was worried about his own seat.

Mr Venkata Reddy warned TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and another senior, Mr K. Jana Reddy, that they would be defeated if they sacrificed the Nakrekal constituency as part of the Mahakutami seat adjustments. Mr Venkata Reddy staged a protest along with the followers of former MLA Chirumarthi Lingaiah who is aspiring for Nakrekal. 

“The constituency is a stronghold of the Congress and we reject the proposal of sacrificing this seat. Mr Lingiah was once an MLA here and he will be a winning horse for the Congress,” Mr Venkata Reddy said.

TS affairs incharge R.C. Khuntia called Mr Venkata Reddy and said no decision was taken to sacrifice Nakrekal to the alliance parties and assured that the Congress would  give the seat to Mr Lingiah.

There are speculations that Telangana Jana Samiti Chief Prof. M. Kodandaram would be contesting from Jangaon which is giving Mr Lakshmaiah, the jitters. He told mediapersons that BCs in the state were already politically insecure and denying a ticket to him and offering it to a member of the Reddy community instead would send a wrong signal to workers. “I don’t think the high command will take such a decision,” he added.

Mr Jana Reddy responded to the issue saying, “We have cleared the name of Mr Lakshmaiah. If someone else is contesting, then he or she would be from the Mahakutami. But, the seats have not been finalized with the allies. The Congress will provide the same number of seats to BC candidates  like last time. When we have decided to forge an alliance, some of these sacrifices will have to be made.”

There was also speculation that Congress working president A. Revanth Reddy was unhappy as his supporters didn’t get tickets. He responded saying, “There is no such unhappiness. I’m working towards defeating the TRS and the family of KCR.”

Leaders from Malkajgiri staged a protest against giving the seat to the Mahakutami. Later, party workers from Khanapur staged a protest demanding that Mr Azmeera Hari Naik be nominated instead of Mr Ramesh Rathod, a new entrant.