Winnability over seniority: Congress list favours strong' candidates

Hyderabad: The first list of 55 candidates released by the Congress on Sunday, despite dissent in some quarters, has reportedly boosted the morale among the party’s rank-and-file members.

Congress sources said that the party passed the first test by fielding ‘strong candidates’ in all the seats, barring one or two, boosting its prospects of coming to power in Telangana.

The general feeling among the party's rank and file was that the party's high command gave preference to ‘winnability’ over ‘seniority’. As many as 11 new entrants from other parties were given tickets, indicating that winning the elections was the party’s top priority.

It is also strongly believed that party strategist Sunil Kanugolu's surveys played a key role in the selection of candidates, as candidates who did not submit applications for tickets were also included in the first list. It is believed that they got tickets based on the positive survey reports by the Kanugolu team.

Party members were also happy with the balancing act, by giving adequate representation to BCs, SCs and STs.

While the ruling BRS is facing the wrath of the BC community for giving 23 seats in a list of 114 candidates, the Congress gave tickets to 12 BCs in the first list of 55 candidates. With the Congress yet to declare candidates for another 64 seats, the party’s rank and file are confident of BCs getting more tickets than the BRS.

Even with regard to giving tickets to women, the BRS gave tickets to just eight women, whereas the Congress has named six women among its 55 candidates. Women leaders are also expecting more tickets than the BRS, once all candidates are finalised.